By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With the breakaway factions of many militant outfits forming different rebel groups, the Centre has made it clear that it would not talk to any more splinter militant groups in future.
The annual report of Ministry of Home Affairs for 2012-13 said that the Government was ready to hold talks with any group or outfit which is willing to abjure violence, lay down arms and agree to abide by the Constitution of India.
“However, if there is a splinter group in future, then Government will not consider talking to them”, the report said.
The militancy scenario in Meghalaya reveals that the members of existing three militant groups in Garo Hills, GNLA, ANVC (B) and United Achik Liberation Army (UALA) were once part and parcel of the mother organization ANVC which is currently under ceasefire.
While the current self-styled commander-in-chief of GNLA, Sohan Shira was the area commander of ANVC, the chairman of ANVC (B) Rimpu Marak was the spokesperson of ANVC. Further, the present self-styled commander-in-chief of UALA was a senior ANVC (B) cadre.
Though Sohan Shira surrendered in the presence of the then chief minister, D.D. Lapang and his deputy Dr Mukul Sangma on August
25, 2007, Shira soon made contacts with Champion Sangma to form GNLA.
It was in July 23, 2004 that a tripartite ceasefire agreement was arrived at between State Government, Centre and the ANVC.
However, a faction led by ANVC leader Mukost Marak did not join the peace process and his group was later christened as ANVC(B). Marak became its commander-in-chief.
Later, the spokesperson of ANVC Torik Marak joined ANVC (B) and became its Chairman taking the name Rimpu Marak.