Tura, Feb 15: The Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) has made an
expose that its former finance secretary, Reding T Sangma was demoted
for breaking the rules of the outfit.
Reding Sangma has floated a new outfit – A’chik Songna An’pachakgipa
Kotok (ASAK), which means vanguards of Garoland. He is also part of
the conglomeration of outfits – United People’s Revolutionary Alliance
(UPRA), which comprises of United A’chik Liberation Army (UALA),
A’chik National Liberation Army (ANLA) and breakaway faction of A’chik
National Volunteers Council (ANVC-B).
ANVC – B has signed the “agreed text for settlement” on January 5,
2013 and is negotiating peace parley with the government.
Eastern Area Command of GNLA, Nawal Sangma said, “Reding deserted us
after being appointed as the grievance secretary. He invested outfits’
Rs 70 lakhs on coal and rubber business, which is managed by his new
mistress”.
He alleged that Reding used GNLA’s letter pads and stamps even after
his removal from the post of finance secretary and had extorted huge
amount of money from Tura, Baghmara and Nongalbibra.
The eastern area commander also revealed that Reding had murdered his
own comrade identified as Joksret, a youth from Mindikgre at Paromgre
village believing him to be a police informer. He claimed that Reding
was the only one to kill one of its own adding that no other member
from the GNLA had ever executed its cadres.
The militant leader accused the former finance secretary of being a
womanizer and claimed that he deserted the outfit only in fear of
action being taken against him for his misdeeds by the outfit’s
leadership.
In an interview, Reding Sangma gave details for parting ways with
GNLA’s commander-in-chief, Sohan D Shira.
“We formed the GNLA to fight for Garoland and to protect our people.
We wanted to take the cause of Garos to a higher level. Over the years
GNLA gained from strength to strength until Sohan broke all rules of
the organization and began to take decisions without consulting the
other leaders of the group”, said Reding.
He blamed Sohan for the fratricidal killings within the GNLA group and
for targeting other outfits like the ANVC-B and the Norrok X Momin led
UALA.
“Unhappy with Sohan’s dictatorship many cadres left the organization”, he said.
Reding accused Sohan of accumulating wealth by extorting traders and
businessmen of all communities including Garos.
“Even the government officers were not left. They had to pay tax”,
said Reding. He even questioned Sohan’s role on the formation of the
outfit, “What has he got from the movement?”
Reding claimed that Sohan is making an effort to ink peace agreement,
so that he can spend the huge money he collected.
The new outfit (ASKA) has all senior members from GNLA with Jack Marak
as its finance secretary. Other members are Cheo Challang as its
Chairman, Dilsrang Sangma as it deputy C-in-C, Dura Matgrik as its
secretary and Anmisil Marak as its joint secretary.(SP News)
