People’s Liberation Front of Meghalaya (PLF-M)

Formation

People’s Liberation Front of Meghalaya (PLF-M) is a relatively new terrorist group operating in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya. Reports suggest that the outfit has been re-christened as the Achik National Council (ANC). When the Hynniewtrep Achik Liberation Council (HALC) split in 1992, it resulted in the formation of the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), which represents the Khasis in Meghalaya, and the Achik Liberation Matgrik Army (ALMA), which wanted a separate Garoland State for the Garos. The PLF-M is an offshoot of this Achik Liberation Matgrik Army (ALMA). Most of the ALMA terrorists surrendered in 1994, but a few formed the Achik National Volunteers' Council (ANVC) in 1995. The PLF-M consists of some of these "surrendered rebels" of the erstwhile ALMA who returned underground after their rehabilitation scheme failed. The exact strength of the outfit is not known.

Objectives

The claimed objective of the PLF-M is economic development of the Garo Hills, as well as better educational opportunities for the Garo tribes in Meghalaya. It also demands a separate state for the Garos. In this regard, Chengku Momin, the ‘minister for information and publicity’ of the PLF-M had warned all the non-Garos, in March 2001, not to contest the State Assembly and district council elections slated for 2003.

Leadership

The chairman of the outfit is Vincent Sangma and Nimush Marak is the ‘Commander in Chief’. Besides that L K Sangma is one of the ‘area commanders’.

Area of Operation

The outfit is primarily active in Dainadubi, Williamnagar, in East Garo Hills, and Dalu in West Garo Hills. Among its activities include extortion of money to generate funds for its activities. In July 2000, the PLF-M had slapped extortion notices even on some Member of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) and including two ministers, from the Garo hills.

Linkages

The PLF-M reportedly maintains close connections with the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC).

2010

• August 15: The Police arrested three persons from Nengringittim in East Garo Hills for allegedly serving a demand note in the name of PLF-M. They were identified as Sengpang Sangma, Twisbirth Sangma and Milan Momin. According to Police, the accused had issued a demand note of INR 0.3 million to a person, Staforth Sangma, on July 22.

• March 19: The Meghalaya Governor R. S. Mooshahary expressed concern over mushrooming of militant groups in Garo hills and the activities of Assam-based outfits along the border. The Governor said that recent developments, such as reports on the formation of militant groups in Garo hills, were a cause of concern. Other militant groups active in Garo hills are LAEF, PLF-M, Achik National Security Defence (ANSD), Atong Liberation Army (ALA), and United Achik National Front (UANF). ULFA and NDFB are also active in Garo hills and border of Ri Bhoi District. The Governor said that the Government was committed to contain militancy at all costs. The Governor added that the security establishment of the State has acted swiftly to break up and contain the activities of the Hynniewtrep Liberation Front (HLF) in Khasi hills, and LAEF in the Garo hills. He said the activities of the local militant organisations like the HNLC and ANVC have been substantially controlled.

2009

• February 28: 45 militants, including a PLF-M cadre, surrender along with a huge quantity of arms and ammunition before Red Horns Division of Indian Army in a surrender ceremony organized at Rangiya of Kamrup District in Assam.

• January 17: Two militants, including the founder general secretary of the PLFM, John Jubilee D. Shera Marak, 34, are killed in an encounter with the Army at Hat Hati bridge near Singhimari village on the National Highway 37 in the Bongaigaon District of Assam. The Army said the encounter ensued when Marak, along with Biswajit Sharma, 22, another hardcore cadre of the outfit, was spotted by the troops in the Chowtaki area under Abhayapuri Police station. The Army later recovered a 9-mm pistol with three bullets, a 7.65 pistol with three bullets, an ATM card, a PAN card, a voter identity card, driving licence and a mobile handset from the slain militant's possession. The commanding officer of the Kumaon Regiment, Col S.K. Dutta, said, "Sharma, a man of Nepali origin, is also a hardcore activist. His driving licence was issued from Dudhnoi, but his voter card from Mekhiliganj under Cooch Behar district in North Bengal. We are cross-checking it with West Bengal police." Marak, hailing from Damas in East Garo Hills, founded the outfit in 2003. Though he was said to be involved in several extortions in Tura and its adjoining areas, he is reported to have shifted base to Dudhnoi in Goalpara and more recently to Bongaigaon.

2008

• October 12: The self-styled 'commander-in-chief' of the PLF-M, identified as Pollendro Marak, is shot dead by the East Garo Hills district police during an encounter at a forest of Bogakol village under Kharkutta police outpost. While around six other militants manage to escape, one Chinese made M20 pistol with five live ammunition and several incriminating documents are recovered from the encounter site.

• September 29: A school boy, abducted by PLF-M militants from his residence in Kharkutta 15 days ago, is released by the militants in Dolonggiri area of West Garo Hills district.