Two separatist rebels surrender in Meghalaya

SHILLONG - Two separatist rebels of the Liberation A’chik Elite Force (LAEF) Sunday surrendered along with a huge cache of ammunition in Meghalaya, police said.

Arjun Momin and Kote Ch Marak gave up their armed struggle for a separate A’chik state in the western part of Meghalaya before Sylvester Nongtynger, the police chief of East Garo Hills district.

“The duo came overground and surrendered due to the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in Garo Hills region,” Nongtynger told IANS.

Both the ultras, who were trained by rebels of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) deposited a huge cache of ammunition, including 418 rounds of G-4 bullets, 109 rounds of medium machine gun bullets and 10 rounds of 7.62mm bullets, as also one hand grenade, Nongtynger said.

The duo, however, said the weapons for the ammunition were with James Sangma, a senior NSCN (K) trainer in Nagaland.

The LAEF, which operates in the Garo Hills regions, maintains close links with other rebels groups in the northeast, including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).