By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) has welcomed the decision of the State Government to initiate an inquiry committee to probe the ‘secret killings’ of civilians allegedly by the militant outfit which is under a ceasefire agreement with the Central Government.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, ANVC spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said, “ANVC welcomes the inquiry committee constituted by the Government to investigate the unmarked graves alleged by GNLA in Samanda and other camps.”
The inquiry is being headed by Commissioner and Secretary (Commissioner of Divisions, Garo Hills region) Peter W Ingty and it will complete its probe in one month’s time.
“ANVC will cooperate with the investigation and will have nothing to hide as we only want peace to be restored in Garo Hills and things come back to normalcy,” the ANVC leader stated in the statement.
The Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) had, earlier, accused the ANVC of indulging in ‘secret killings’ of civilians.
According to GNLA, the ANVC had killed and buried several innocent people in unmarked graves behind the Tura Youth Hostel and Samanda camp in East Garo Hills.
“ANVC will restrain from taking any hard step if GNLA does not disturb peace in Garo Hills and if the common people are not affected,” the ANVC leader added, while maintaining that the differences between the two outfits could be sorted out in the jungles without hampering the common people.
Commenting on the bandh call issued by the GNLA, Marak maintained that the GNLA should withdraw their bandh call since the State Government had ordered the inquiry.