By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has ruled out providing general amnesty to the members of both ANVC and ANVC(B), though they had agreed to the peace pact.
After a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the Chief Minister told reporters that there would not be any general amnesty to the members. “The Government will not follow up ‘not so heinous crimes’ committed by the cadres, but heinous crimes will be taken up by police”, Dr Sangma added.
Providing general amnesty to all members was part of the original memorandum of ANVC submitted to the Government.
In the past, after the surrender of HNLC chairman, Julius Dorphang and other cadres, the Government did not follow up the pending criminal cases against them.
Appeal to GNLA, HNLC: The Chief Minister also made an appeal to the remaining groups, Garo Hills based GNLA and Khasi Hills based HNLC to join the peace process.
According to Dr Sangma, the decision of the Government to have a peace pact based on the demands of the ANVC will be right signal to both GNLA and HNLC to come forward for an amiable settlement with the Government.