Shillong, Feb 16: Terming the dialogues between the state and central governments with the militants of Garo hills as “unconstitutional,” the Achik Peace Volunteers Council (APVC) instead said the government must use force to neutralize the various militant groups operating in Garo hills and end the suffering of the people.
In a letter submitted to the union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) APVC Che Guevara Marak said “These criminals are not extremists. They (militants) haven’t uttered a single word about their ideology, not a single act implies their ideology.” He straight away said that their acts clearly imply their business motive of terrorizing the people and extorting money. He asserted they are interested in money and not separate state.
Saying that India is a sovereign country and therefore a sovereign government must send forces and punish the criminals, Marak said, “Talking to these criminals is unconstitutional and shameful.” He said what is happening in Garo hills should not happen in a sovereign country.
Giving a crime chart prepared by the APVC team on the crime inflicted upon the society in Garo hills by the “so called militant groups” – Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), Achik National Volunteers Council-Breakaway (ANVC-B), United Achik Liberation Army (UALA), Liberation Achik Elite Force (LAEF), ATF, Achik National Liberation Central Army (ANLCA) and many other splinter groups, Marak said these militants have been committing heinous crimes.
Giving details, the letter stated that in the year 2013, the militants killed 38 people that include 7 security personnel. The letter said among the victims of militancy, is one assistant pastor, 2 women, 2 Nokmas (Nokma is traditional head of clan) and 2 government officers.
14 traders and coal laborers were abducted for ransom. There were attacks on petrol pumps, MPRO station, numerous trucks, police station, forest range office, DMR gate, public transport bus, markets, private companies like BSC C&C besides serving demand notes from church missionaries to meat seller, the letter revealed saying the hard eared money of civilians were being extorted.
In 2014, the letter informed so far the militants killed people and kidnapped 7 innocent civilians. They attacked a district magistrate, an addl. district magistrate, one petrol pump and the police, said the letter.
The letter said that the militants have been doing simple business by creating terror, which is their investment. The terror includes killing, abduction of a trader or a businessman or a civilian, the letter informed adding, “So killing innocent people is their investment, which yields good return with crore of extorted money.”
The APVC letter however rued that instead of punishing these criminals with government’s might , some of these criminals have been engaged in peace talks questioning why the union government has to talks to criminals.
The letter wondered is the Indian government surrendering to these criminals, saying, “They (militants) are criminals and should be punished according to the law of the land.”
The APVC letter also revealed that a post master of a remote village in Garo hills had to take out his life’s saving of Rs 50, 0000 to pay off the GNLA militants who had demanded from him. The letter said that everyone knows the post master is an honest government servant and doesn’t make money from corruption. It said, “When he received extortion note, he did not even think of approaching the police.”
The APVC letter lastly revealed that in Williamnagar, the district headquarter of East Garo hills, during last Christmas, all wine stores, electric shops and dry fish market were closed for a week as the GLA commander- in-chief Sohan D Shira had ordered them to close the shops if they cannot pay the demanded amount..
The APVC letter questioned, “Is this a sovereign country? It concluded by saying, “This is not a sign of sovereign country.”- By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours