By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The East Garo Hills district magistrate has cancelled the bail granted to four ANVC (B) cadres including Singbirth N Marak alias Norok/Tengton for their alleged involvement in the gunning down two staff of Willimnagar jail even as the outfit has denied its hand in the February 2 incident.
Two innocent jail employees- Assistant Jailer Neil Warjri and warder Sarai Sing Thabah died in the incident.
On the other hand, the district administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry into attack to find out what led to the laxity in jail. The additional district magistrate MK Marak will head the magisterial probe. One month time has been given to the magistrate to complete the probe, an official source said on Monday.
The East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Vijay Mantri said that besides the cancellation of bail, notices were also served to the bailors, who assured the attendance of the cadres in court whenever required.
After the cadres got bail on January 11 and 22, they never attended the court during the subsequent hearings.
It was the additional district magistrate B Hajong who had granted bail to the arrested ANVC (B) cadres
Mantri indicated that there were possibilities that the bailors might be arrested as they were the ones who stood for bail for arrested ANVC (B) cadres on surety.
ANVC (B) denial: Meanwhile, while condemning the incident the ANVC(B) has denied its involvement in the attack on Williamnagar jail.
According to the militant outfit, the organization is being dragged in by some vested interests.
“Williamnagar is GNLA chairman Sohan Shira’s stronghold and our influence in that area is not much”, the ANVC(B) added.
Police, however, has reiterated its claim that it has definite clues which indicate involvement of the ANVC (B).
“Accusing ANVC(B) seems more like a cover up statement to target our cadres and to derail the peaceful initiative. Norok and other cadres have been bailed out legally and their involvement in the attack is not possible as they are out to meet the Commander in Chief and have not assumed command yet,” the ANVC-B leader Rimpu Marak said . The arrested cadres have been tortured and threatened while they were in custody but now they pose no threat to anyone, Marak added.
According to Marak, the ANVC cadres are cooperating with the Government and followed legal procedure to bail out the cadres who still have to attend the court. So, the accusation has to be carefully examined otherwise cadres may feel threatened and worse situation may arise, the ANVC leader said .
“There is an apprehension among ANVC(B) cadres that some officers made personal remarks when they were in custody and they plan to arrest them again on some pretext”, Marak said.
“The ANVC(B) is trying to ensure understanding with other communities of the State and dragging our name without evidence will jeopardize the entire process,” he said adding “We welcome DGP Kulbir Kishan’s statement to have an in-depth inquiry before coming to any conclusion, and we assure cooperation”.
Earlier, in a section of the press the GNLA also made a statement denying its involvement in the attack.