Tura, May 20: Meghalaya police today gunned down five United A’chik
Liberation Army (UALA) cadres and busted their hideout from Chiokgre,
near Williamnagar in East Garo Hills.
Chiokgre is on the other side of Simsang River about 5 km from
Williamnagar town. The location is about 80 km from here.
The operation was led by Meghalaya police, Special Weapons and Tactics
Commandos (SWAT) and CRPF’s commando battalion for resolute action
(CoBRA). The operation began late night and continued till early
morning.
The exchange of fire between police and UALA militants lasted for
about 15 minutes from 4:15 to 4:30 am.
Outfit’s commander-in-chief, Norok X. Momin was hiding at the
location, who managed to escape along with six others.
East Garo Hills SP, Davis Marak said, “We launched the operation based
on our intelligence inputs that commander-in-chief of the outfit Norok
X. Momin, along with his cadres were taking shelter at Chiokgre
village. We managed to locate the hideout and gunned down five of the
cadres”.
Police have recovered three AK-47, one pistol, 109 ammunition, demand
note and ID cards. One SI of Meghalaya police was injured in the
exchange of bullets.
Four of the cadres have been identified as Sengnam N. Marak alias
Walle, self-styled sergeant major, Kalam R. Marak, corporal commander,
Gikdik Momin and private soldier Bhatnagar R. Marak.
“We have found three IDs cards from the slain cadres”, said Marak.
UALA is a splinter group of the breakaway faction of the A’chik
National Volunteers Council (ANVC-B) and is fighting for a separate
Garoland, seeking that a state be carved out of Meghalaya, comprising
the five districts of Garo hills.
The UALA chairman, Chiindik Marak is wanted by Meghalaya Police in the
killing of two Meghalaya jail officials at Williamnagar in East Garo
Hills.
He is also wanted by Assam Police for masterminding the killing of
seven Rabha tribesmen and injuring nine others at Gendabari village in
Assam’s Goalpara district, which took place during Diwali last year.(SP News)
