By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The sudden announcement of schedule of Assembly polls has delayed any proper settlement with the ANVC, which recently signed a draft peace pact with the Government.
Though the State Cabinet hurriedly approved the draft agreement, the Union Cabinet will have to give final nod to the agreement.
What worries the State Home department is that the cadres of breakaway faction of the outfit — ANVC (B) — have weapons with them and they are to surrender them before the Government.
During the meeting for the peace pact held in Shillong recently, the ANVC (B) was asked to surrender arms, but the police has not given deadline as the final agreement is yet to be arrived at.
The final agreement with the ANVC will now be signed only after the election due to enforcement of model code of conduct.
However, as far as the parent body, ANVC is concerned, the weapons are kept in the joint custody of both the police and the militant group.
The ANVC (B) is expected to submit the details of its cadres and its weapons to the State Government shortly.
Pending a final agreement, the state home department will be monitoring the activities of both the factions of ANVC due to the upcoming Assembly polls.
As per the draft agreement, there will be more members in GHADC and the Council will also be given additional subjects for better administration. Besides, the Council will also be strengthened by way of providing financial powers.
Both the factions of ANVC are yet to announce their stand in the upcoming elections, though it was the Congress led government which initiated the peace pact with both the groups.
On the otherhand, Chief Minister Dr 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.
An election official said since the militant outfits in Garo Hills are unlikely to boycott polls, there are signs of free and fair polls in Garo Hills.