Shillong, Dec. 9: In a boost to peace initiatives in the Garo Hills, self-styled "chairman" of the A'chik Matgrik Elite Force (AMEF), along with it's "commander-in-chief" and another cadre surrendered with arms before Meghalaya director-general of police Rajiv Mehta in the presence of senior police officials here today.

AMEF, which had planned a tie-up with NSCN (K), was formed in August 2014 by #Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) deserter and a former self-styled finance secretary of the A'chik Songna An'pachakgipa Kotok (ASAK), Jack Marak, along with Jakrika Matgrik alias Goran A. Sangma and 16 others.

After Jack was killed in an encounter with the police on May 1, 2015, Timudh D. Marak alias Chijong took over as the new self-styled commander-in-chief of AMEF while Sengjan N. Arengh alias Spec became the self-styled chairman.

Both Sengjan, 30, and Timudh, 36, along with another cadre surrendered this evening where they also deposited one AK-47 rifle, one 9mm pistol, two AK magazines, one hand grenade and others.

Sengjan and Timudh had earlier been with the GNLA at different intervals. While Sengjan, who is a graduate, claimed to have "accidentally" joined the GNLA in 2013, Timudh aligned with the outfit in 2011. All the three surrendered militants belong to East Garo Hills district.

Sengjan, who belonged to the "original" AMEF, said the outfit is divided into three factions. While the first faction has three cadres, the second and third factions have six and 10 cadres, respectively.On the procurement of arms, Timudh said most of the arms were taken away from the GNLA. However, Sengjan added that the group, which received "donations" from businessmen, had used the money to purchase old arms. "We asked for donations from the people and some businessmen in Garo Hills had given help. We never took money forcefully," Sengjan claimed. He said the outfit had never received the support of politicians.

He further said that at present the outfit has no money. On the break-up with the GNLA, Timudh said while many had joined the outfit for the cause of a separate "Garoland", some of the cadres were "disillusioned" with the GNLA leadership.

"The AMEF was formed to take up the cause of Garoland, but we differed with the ideals of the GNLA. We found that the leaders of GNLA were amassing wealth for themselves," Timudh claimed.

While denying that the outfit has had a tie-up with any other group, Sengjan informed that earlier, there was a plan to have a link with the NSCN (K). However, the plan never materialised, he said.

East Garo Hills superintendent of police Davis N.R. Marak said the surrendered militants would be interrogated in due course.

Earlier, Mehta said the surrender of the AMEF leaders was important as the outfit has been "very active" in the Garo Hills. He hoped that more would surrender.