Demand for probe into ‘secret killings’ by ANVC
From Our Correspondent
TURA: Continuing its tirade against bitter rivals ANVC, the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) has announced two sets of bandhs in the three districts of Garo Hills with the first closure taking place on the September 9 from 5 am to 5 pm and a similar shutdown from September 12 to 14 if their demands for an investigation into alleged ‘secret killings’ of civilians by the ANVC is not met by the Government.
GNLA ‘army chief’ Sohan D Shira’s ‘personal secretary’ Kakam D Shira informed The Shillong Times on Thursday that the outfit would hold a ‘preliminary’ round of bandh from dawn to dusk on September 9 if the State Government fails to respond to its demands for a probe into the alleged ‘secret killings’ by the ANVC.
“We want a thorough investigation into the disappearance of innocent Garo men who have been killed by ANVC and buried in unmarked graves, calling off anti-militancy operations against our organisation and a investigation into the use of weapons by the ceasefire group (ANVC),” said Shira.
He sought an answer as to how the ANVC, which is in a tripartite agreement with New Delhi and Shillong, continues to carry arms when the outfit was suppose to have its weapons stored and sealed under joint custody with the State police. “Has the ANVC been allowed to purchase new weapons illegally when law prohibits them to do so or has the State Government given them licenses to carry weapons which in itself is a violation of the ground rules set by the central government?” questioned Shira.
The GNLA has decided to call the bandh in Garo Hills on September 9 to press upon the elected representatives to look into its demands in the upcoming Assembly elections.
“Our ultimatum is up to Thursday and if nothing happens we will have a preliminary shutdown the next day. The following week we will go ahead with the dawn-to-dusk bandh from September 12 to 14,” said Shira.
There will be no bandh on Saturday and Sunday, the outfit clarified.
The outfit has also clarified that the power department (MeECL), PHE, Medical department and the media would not be barred from the purview of the outfit’s strike.
“We are going through the democratic way of protest right now but soon we shall have to take the violent route. We have a well trained army to enforce that,” warned Shira.
