By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) has warned the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) of dire consequences if any untoward incident occurs during the August-16 bandh called by the GNLA.
In a statement issued here on Friday, ANVC spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said, “ANVC has drawn a line for GNLA and if even a single soul is hurt on August 16 or any other day, there will be dire consequences.”
According to ANVC, the bandh called by GNLA is totally unacceptable and the outfit should have taken the public into confidence before announcing any bandh.
The ANVC said calling a bandh just after the Independence Day and forcefully declaring it as a ‘mourning day’ without public consensus is a dictatorial act amounting to cowardice.
“At one time they are declaring that they do not want the common people to suffer, and on the other hand they are calling for a bandh and warning of dire consequences if not observed. This is totally absurd. GNLA should not dictate terms at gun point,” the statement said.
“The line has been drawn and if GNLA crosses that line — there surely will be war,” the statement added.
The ANVC also warned GNLA ‘chairman’ Champion R Sangma to refrain from drawing irresponsible statements that could possibly lead to communal clash
Sangma had, earlier, maintained that any celebration concerning Meghalaya — be it Meghalaya Day, U Kiang Nangbah Day or U Tirot Singh Day — would lead to a Garo Hills bandh, while only Togan Nengminza Day will be observed.