TURA: A 28-year-old member of the ASAK rebel group operating in South Garo Hills surrendered before BSF authorities at Dobasipara in Tura on Wednesday morning.
The rebel, Komol Ch Marak, hailing from Telekhali village of Gasuapara, joined the outfit after meeting its commander Reding T. Sangma in 2013. He helped the outfit in dealing in arms and as worked a guide for cadres who crossed over to Bangladesh or those who wanted to enter Indian territory. The former rebel told BSF officials that he was trained at Hajongpara in Mymensing district in Bangladesh and was taught how to handle a carbine, an AK rifle and a pistol.
BSF Deputy Inspector General Brigadier (Retd) U.P.S Pathania and 20 Battalion BSF Commandant Sankatha Prasad were present when Marak surrendered at the sector headquarters at Dobasipara.
Marak also revealed that the ASAK outfit got its weapons and fatigues from Bangladeshi Garo criminals. The surrendered rebel said he would bring the weapons and uniforms and deliver it to the outfit at Kondok reserve forest in South Garo Hills for the last five years.
According to the surrendered cadre, ASAK was closely associated with several trans-border criminal gangs. Marak named seven individuals who helped the militant group in abducting businessmen from Mankachar, coal mine owners and drivers as well as commuters passing through the Baghmara-Dalu National Highway 51.
The top leadership of ASAK led by its chief Reding T Sangma surrendered to Meghalaya police in the first week of this month in South Garo Hills but several members are continuing with their criminal activities.
