ANVC not to interfere in Meghalaya Assembly polls

Shillong, Jan 9 (UNI) The proscribed A'chik National Volunteers' Council(ANVC) has decided not to interfere in the coming Assembly elections in Meghalaya.

Confirming this, official sources here at a joint meeting with senior government officials at Tura in West Garo Hills district today said '' We have asked the ANVC representatives not to interfere or involved directly or indirectly during the Assembly polls in the state.'' The Assembly elections to the 60-member house Assembly was slated for next month.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner of Division Garo Hills P W Ignty, Inspector General of Police Special Branch S B Singh, Superintendent of Police East, West and South Garo Hills Districts, besides the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills district.

The ANVC was led by ANVC Organising Secretary Bernard N Marak.

Sources also said that the ANVC representatives, who attended the meeting assured to restrain its cadres not to involve during the polls. He added that the meeting was also aimed at having better law and order situation in the three districts of Garo Hills.

Earlier, the Joint Monitoring Group(JMG) meeting held in Delhi directed the ANVC strictly adhered to ceasefire ground rules.

On July 23, 2004, a tripartite agreement was signed by the ANVC, Centre and Meghalaya government to suspend armed operations and extortions.

Inpector General of Police S B Singh had admitted that after the ceasefire, there has been a significant reduction in kidnappings and killings. However, the meeting expressed concern over the alleged extortion carried out by the ANVC.

The ANVC members, however, denied any such extortion activities carried out by the militant outfit in Garo Hills.

The ANVC, which operates in the Garo Hills and in certain parts of the West Khasi Hills, is fighting for a its demand for a separate Garoland under the Indian constitution.

UNI RRK LL AM AS2159