BHARAT PRASAD: Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) MEGHALAYA

Incidents and Statements involving Achik National Volunteer Council: 2014, 2013, 1998-2012

The Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) was formed in December 1995. It was proscribed on November 16, 2000. The outfit, signed a ceasefire agreement with the Govenrment of India on JUly 23, 2004.

Objectives

The ANVC aims to carve out a homeland called ‘Achik Land’ in the areas of Garo Hills. The proposed ‘Achik Land’ comprises the present districts of Garo Hills in Meghalaya and a large chunk of Kamrup and Goalpara district of Assam. The ‘Garo majority' in these areas is used as the argument for this demand. The ANVC differs from the other Garo separatist organisation, Garo National Council (GNC), which aims for a Garo State comprising only the three districts of the Garo hills.

Leadership

Dilash R. Marak is the ‘Chairman’ of the ANVC. The outfit’s ‘Commander-in-Chief’ is Jerome Momin. Among the other leaders are ‘General Secretary’, Wanding R. Marak, ‘Publicity Secretary’, Artist Sengsrang Sangma, ‘Joint Secretary’, Janggam Momin, and ‘Finance Secretary’ Rickie Sangma.

The outfit divides its area of operation into several zones and each zone is headed by a ‘commander’. The cadres who function as commanders of different zones are: Chenang Marak (Eastern Zone), Goran Sangma (Southern Zone), Batjang Shera (Western Zone), Ranggam Marak (West Khasi Hills).

Area commanders function below the zonal commanders in the operational hierarchy. Sohan D. Shira functions as the ‘Area Commander’ of Williamnagar.

The leadership maintains strict vigil on the activities of its cadres. This was manifest in the threats it issued in the year 2000 to its surrendering cadres, who were doing so under the rehabilitation package announced by the Union Government in the year 1998-99, and their family members. The outfit also warned them not to join any other outfit.

Area of Operation

The ANVC, during its active days, was active in the Garo Hills and in certain parts of the West Khasi Hills. It maintained its headquarters at Cheram in the Garo hills area. Among its activities were extortion from the business community in the name of ‘fund collection’. Besides that, the outfit also pumped fake currency into circulation.

Linkages

The outfit was reportedly formed with the assistance of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Issak Muivah (NSCN-IM). However, it has severed its entire links with the Naga outfit as well as with the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). The outfit now maintains links with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), especially after the latter wound up some of its camps in Bhutan and is in the process of relocating them in the Garo Hills. The ANVC has some of its camps in Bangladesh. It is also involved in fake currency circulation initiated by the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's external intelligence agency. In Meghalaya, ANVC, along with the other prominent outfit, HNLC, abets this infusion of fake currency and in turn receives considerable operating funds. Extortion remains the major source of funding for the ANVC. Incidents of abduction are frequent in the state. Money is regularly collected from the trading community of the area in the name of ‘fund collection’. However, extortion remains the major source of funding for the ANVC. Incidents of abduction are frequent in the State. Money is regularly collected from the trading community of the area in the name of ‘fund collection’.

Peace Process

On July 23, 2004 a cease-fire agreement was signed between the Government of India and the ANVC for a period of six months. A seven member ANVC team, with the notable absence of Chairman Dilash Marak and Commander-in-Chief Jerome Momin signed the agreement in New Delhi. The agreement has since been periodically extended.

A ceasefire-monitoring cell has been set up at the Coal India Complex at Araimile in Tura, headquarter of the West Garo Hills district. Two designated camps for housing the surrendered militants have also been set up at Samada and Chokpot in the Garo Hills region.

Incidents and Statments Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC): 1998-2012

2012

December 27: The ANVC-B has alleged that the State Government was protecting GNLA by providing them shelter besides financial help. ANVC-B 'Chairman', Rimpu Marak said that there is an understanding between the State Government and the GNLA. Further, the State Police are acting against ANVC-B with assurance for rewards and promotion from the Government.
December 24: Five suspected militants of the ANVC-B were arrested from Nongshram of West Khasi Hills District and Mendipathar of North Garo Hills District. Police, at Nongshram, recovered the demand note the militants had served to the toll gate owner. The five ANVC militants have been identified as Sunil N Marak, Palwan Marak, Nethar K Sangma, Sengwan G Momin and Amobi Momin.
December 23:The Meghalaya DGP Kulbir Krishan claimed that militant activities in insurgency-ravaged Garo Hills have gone down ahead of the Christmas festivities. He also said that militants, both from the GNLA and ANVC-B, are taking a break and paying visits to their family members.
December 20: Suspected militants belonging to the breakaway faction of the ANVC-B killed a GNLA militant at Rongtok village in West Khasi Hills District. Two GNLA militants were also injured during the incident.

The ANVC-B sponsored seven-hour-long bandh (shutdown strike) concluded peacefully. The ANVC-B called the bandh in remembrance of 'fallen martyrs'. The streets of Garo Hills wore a deserted look and business establishments, government offices and educational institutions remained close.

December 19: A linkman of the ANVC-B, Errit N Marak (21), was arrested by SFs from Gopinathkilla Market in South West Garo Hills District.
December 18: ANVC-B has reduced duration of its December 20 Garo Hills bandh (Shutdown) to six hours from the earlier 12 hours duration. The timing of calling the bandh was criticized by people of Garo Hills since it is a festive season.
December 12: ANVC-B has called for a bandh (shut down strike) in the Garo Hills region just when Christmas is round the corner. The outfit's 'commander-in-chief' Mokosh Marak issued a communiqué mentioning that December 20 would be a day of closure in observance for those who fought and laid down their lives for the protection of the Garos. No militant group from Garo Hills has ever called for a shutdown during the festive season.

The ANVC 'chairman' Rimpu Marak said that Tura bazaar grenade incident of December 11 was a 'well planned drama'. "Tura police is trying to create fear psychosis to disturb the festive mood of the people as it was a diffused grenade which was planted by a 'bihari' to attract attention and instigate public against ANVC-B and GNLA," he said.

December 11: A high explosive hand grenade was recovered from the heart of Tura main market. Speculation is rife that the attempt to create mayhem was undertaken either by the GNLA or the ANVC-B though both the outfits denied involvement in the incident. The grenade, HE 35 explosive, was later diffused safely. No one has been arrested in this connection.

ANVC-B has asked the legislators to raise issues concerning Garo Hills in the ongoing Assembly winter session. "We are hoping against hope that some of our leaders would raise issues concerning Garo Hills in this session and bring home the greatest Christmas gift that we have always aspired for which will ensure lasting peace in Garo Hills," ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu Marak said in a statement.

December 8: ANVC-B justified the attack on MPCC working president, Deborah Marak by saying that the politicians should first work for uplifting Garo Hills throughout their tenure instead of projecting themselves during the elections. Further, according to the ANVC-B 'Chairman' Rimpu Marak, his order is applicable to every politician and not limited only to Deborah.
December 7: The arrested seven members of ANVC-B militants, who orchestrated the attack on Deborah Marak, revealed to Police that they were compelled to attack former State Minister because of the instructions given by their 'chairman' Rimpu Marak. ANVC-B 'chairman' wanted the former Minister to accept their demands and agree to their cause by signing an agreement, something the politician was reluctant to do.
December 6: 12 days after the ANVC-B militants 'attacked' the MPCC working president Deborah Marak at Rongbinggre in East Garo Hills District; the State Police arrested seven militants involved in the attack. Police sources informed that the seven ANVC-B cadres were arrested at Rongjeng while they were travelling in a vehicle. The arrested militants were identified as Singbirth N Marak alias Tengton, Sengnang N Marak, Noresh D Sangma alias Simpu, Walma N Marak, Marsan K Marak, Eggnil T Sangma and Jetil Marak. The Police sources informed that the interrogation of the arrested militants is on.
December 1: SFs arrested four cadres of the ANVC-B cadres from Rongram in West Garo Hills. The arrested militants were identified as Balsrang M Sangma, Beto S Sangma, Bandu D Sangma and Togarik R Marak.

Outgoing Acting DGP, Rajiv Mehta criticized MPCC working president Deborah Marak for not informing the police before proceeding to attend a prize distribution ceremony in East Garo Hills where she was attacked by ANVC-B militants on November 24.

November 30: ANVC faction, currently under ceasefire, has invited GNLA' commander-in-chief' Sohan D Shira and ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu. N Marak to join its fold for peace talks to ensure lasting peace in Garo Hills region. While appreciating the statement of Meghalaya Chief Minister (CM), Dr Mukul Sangma that the State Government is preparing a draft agreement with the ANVC, its publicity secretary Arist Sangma said that all the militant outfits of the state should join the peace process.
November 28: CM, Mukul Sangma had said that the Government was preparing the draft agreement to come to a settlement with the ANVC.
November 27: ANVC-B has raised questions over the State Chief Secretary WMS Pariat's statement that he is not aware of the ANVC-B's Memorandum. The ANVC-B in a statement said that the outfit had submitted its memorandum dated February 10, 2012, addressed to the then Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram with copies to the Chief Minister, the State Home Minister and the Chief Secretary of the State through the State Police Special Branch and by mail.
November 23: ANVC-B militants attacked MPCC working president, Deborah Marak at Rongbingrre in East Garo Hills District. While escaping from the area, Marak, her sister and other women supporters sustained injuries.
November 22: Security Forces arrested two ANVC militants, identified as Togan R Marak (33) and Henush G Momin (28), as they were extorting money from a businessman in Araimile market of Tura in West Garo Hills District.
November 20: Centre's interlocutor in talks with the ANVC, P.C. Haldar on November 20, said it would be up to the State Government to take a call whether to accommodate the cadres, who had defected from the ANVC.
November 19: The Centre has left it to the State Government to decide on the demand of the ANVC for a GAC and the desire of ANVC-B to hold talks with the Government. Centre's interlocutor for peace talks with the ANVC, PC Haldar said that the State has to take a decision on the various demands of the ANVC including the formation of GAC.

ANVC-B claimed FICN to the tune of crores of rupees had entered the Garo hills region in the last few weeks. "Garo Hills is being exploited politically and economically, and strategies adopted are foolproof. Fake currency amounting not less than crores of rupees made way into the region in the last few weeks. It is sure to affect the economy," ANVC -B 'chairman' Rimpu N. Marak said.

November 18: The ANVC-B asked the parent group of the outfit, presently under ceasefire, to join it [ANVC-B] if they are not happy with the ongoing truce process with the Government.
November 16: ANVC has denied any involvement or nexus with GNLA and said that the arrest of one of its member by Police could be nothing more than an isolated case. ANVC is currently under a ceasefire with the State and Central Governments.
November 14: Latest police finding states that GNLA and ANVC-B high command has lost their influence on local leaders and cadres. State Police's latest analytical findings revealed that many local leaders and cadres of the GNLA and ANVC-B do not function under any direct command, instead use their own discretion to extort money and torment the civilian population in the five Districts of Garo hills region.

South Garo Hills Police arrested a militant belonging to the ANVC for being part of the GNLA group, which planted as many as three powerful IEDs on the Kherapara route on November 2 to target security forces.

November 10: Suspected militants from the ANVC-B targeted a Police vehicle and civilians in the heart of Nangalbibra market of South Garo Hills District by firing indiscriminately on innocent civilians leading to the death of two persons in the afternoon of November 10. Six others sustained serious injuries in the incident. The militants were apparently trying to extort money from traders who were reluctant to meet their demand when the militants opened fire. Among the four suspected ANVC-B attackers, two are suspected to have received bullet injuries after Police personnel fired on them shortly after they committed the heinous crime.
November 6: ANVC cadres, under ceasefire since 2004, have not received their monthly stipend since February 2012. The 'publicity secretary' of the ANVC, Arist Sangma said that the delay on the part of the Government to disburse the monthly stipend had affected the morale of the cadres.
October 31: ANVC-B suffered a major blow when SFs arrested two of its cadres during an operation at Tura in West Garo Hills District. One of the arrested militants is the 'action commander' of the ANVC-B identified as Delu R Marak. Police recovered a China-made pistol with four live rounds of ammunition from them.
October 22: ANVC-B steered itself away from the alleged sexual assault by one of its cadre on five minor girls at Samanda in East Garo Hills, even as it assured extreme punishment to anyone who was guilty of molesting the minors. There were accusations that an ANVC-B cadre identified as Jamesbirth Momin alias Giljeng Momin was involved in the molestation of the five minor girls.
October 17-18: Cadres of ANVC-B sexually assaulted five young girls who were on their way to School in Samanda in East Garo Hills.
October 14: The ANVC-B has predicted that the 2013 Assembly elections in Garo Hills would not be peaceful due to the presence of illegal weapons in the area. According to the militant outfit, several gangs are being sponsored by politicians by providing them with arms. The outfit, in a statement issued, alleged that a number of sophisticated weapons that sneaked into Garo Hills in the last couple of months were not procured by the revolutionary groups.

ANVC-B has urged the Nokmas to address the issue of influx. In a statement, the ANVC-B leader, Rimpu Marak said that it was time Nokmas should understand their role in the society and exercise their powers with utmost wisdom and sincerity.

October 7: ANVC-B asked Chief Minister Mukul M Sangma and NPP leader Purno A Sangma to work together for the sake of lasting peace in Garo Hills.
October 5: ANVC-B Chairman Rimpu Marak has called for "unity among all the tribes to fight against infiltrators." In a statement issued, Marak said that all tribals protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution must unite against infiltrators, who are crossing the borders at an alarming rate.
October 4: Meghalaya Government is facing an uphill task in the run up to the Assembly elections, as it has to control the activities of several militant groups in the State. Four main militant groups -HNLC in Khasi Hills and GNLA, ANVC and ANVC-B in Garo Hills - can play a crucial role in influencing the outcome of elections if the candidates fall into the 'temptation' of making use of these militants to further their cause. There are also minor groups including LAEF who are active in the border areas of West Khasi Hills and East Garo Hills.

ANVC publicity secretary, Arist Sangma, however said, his outfit, currently under ceasefire, would not meddle in the 2013 election. The HNLC is yet to make its stand clear on the elections while the ANVC-B has already announced that it will initiate mass awareness on adult franchise and democratic rights besides mobilizing a democratic front for the 2013 polls.

The biggest cause of worry is the recent announcement of GNLA 'chairman' Champion Sangma that the outfit was ready to support Congress in the election.

October 2: A teacher of Adokgre School who was abducted by suspected militants of ANVC-B on September 27 from his house at Resubelpara in North Garo Hills District, was released.

Intelligence agencies have revealed that the ANVC-B is suspected to be using Bajengdoba area as a command and control centre for its activities.

October 1: The ANVC-B has now decided jump into the poll bandwagon by planning to mobilize a democratic front ahead of the 2013 State election and organizing mass awareness on adult franchise and democratic rights. The ANVC-B has also declared a non-cooperation movement against the legislators of GHADC chief PK Sangma. ANVC-B said bandhs (shut down strike) and other democratic protests have failed to make any impact on the Government and so the outfit will initiate mass awareness on adult franchise and democratic rights.
September 28: ANVC-B alleged that the State Government has violated the internal agreement which it had signed with the latter on April 13, 2012 by arresting some of its cadres who were about to surrender.
September 27: Suspected ANVC-B militants torched a bike at Dadenggre and damaged the windshield of a vehicle at Chasingre in West Garo Hills District during the 2-hour bandh. The 2-hour daily bandh has been called from Monday (September 24) until Friday (September 28 [today]) by the anti-corruption wing of ANVC (B) to put pressure on GHADC CEM PK Sangma to resign from his post.

According to Police, militants in different groups torched the bike and broke the windshield of a vehicle in two separate incidents in West Garo Hills. The militants also fired in the air after committing the crime.

Ceasefire agreement with ANVC was extended for one more year following the meeting of a joint ceasefire monitoring. ANVC 'publicity secretary', Arist Sangma, informed after the meeting that the Centre has agreed to extend the ceasefire by one more year.

The tripartite ceasefire agreement with the ANVC was extended for one more year following a joint ceasefire monitoring meeting held.

September 26: ANVC-B militants had attacked a vehicle in which many teachers were travelling at Ampati. However, the intervention of the police prevented any further attack.
September 8: The irregular disbursement of monthly stipends has forced the ANVC cadres, currently under ceasefire, to explore new avenues to eke out a living. The cadres of the outfit have not been getting their monthly stipend of INR 3, 000 since February, 2012.
September 2: ANVC-B, shifted their stand from demanding the resignation of the GHADC CEM Purno K. Sangma to the demand for a 'Garoland'.
August 30: The indefinite road blockade called by the ANVC-B from 6 pm of August 29 impacted life in the Garo hills Districts. The outfit has been demanding the resignation of GHADC CEM Purno K. Sangma on charges of corruption and misappropriation of council funds.

ANVC-B has alleged that Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma is protecting the GHADC CEM Purno K Sangma by asking the GHADC chief not to resign and assuring necessary protection.

August 28: Accusing the authorities of giving preferential treatment to ANVC-B, the GNLA urged the Government to initiate impartial handling of all the militant outfits. West Khasi Hills Area Commander of GNLA, Tosol T Sangma said that the ANVC-B cadres too should be hunted down in the way GNLA members are being targeted by the Government.
August 26: Taking note of the prevailing scam in the GHADC, the ANVC-B has demanded that the present EC in the Council should be immediately dissolved and the CEM Purno K Sangma and his deputy Brigady N Marak should resign from their respective posts.

Breaking his silence over ongoing controversy dogging his position as CEM, the GHADC chief Purno K Sangma has appealed to public not get swayed by the dictate of the ANVC-B. Saddened by the road blockade called by the ANVC-B in Garo Hills to exert pressure on him to resign, the CEM urged people not to respond to the proposed agitation.

The ANVC-B has cautioned the public of miscreants, mostly cadres from ANVC, who are allegedly collecting money from traders posing as ANVC-B cadres.

August 22: ANVC-B has called for a 12 hour Garo Hills District bandh (shut down strike) on August 24 demanding the resignation of CEM of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) Purno K Sangma and his deputy Brigady Marak. The militant outfit has accused the GHADC chief and his deputy of siphoning off money collected at the Council toll gates.

ANVC-B has accused its parent outfit ANVC, of trying to tarnish the image of the breakaway faction. The ANVC-B appealed to people to remain alert on the matter. "Cadres mostly from the ANVC are in the name of ANVC (B) are collecting huge amounts from different traders.

August 21: ANVC-B has once again expressed its desire to come for negotiation with the Government over its long pending demand for a separate Garoland. In a letter submitted to the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma recently, the ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu Napak Marak sought a positive response from the State Government in this regard.
August 20: Suspected militants of LAEF lobbed a grenade into the wine store in Mangsang town of East Garo Hills District. No one was injured. The suspected militants came to Mangsang bazar at 12:30 pm and threw the grenade into the shop. The grenade, however, did not explode.
August 17: The ANVC-B has asked the chief executive member of GHADC, P.K. Sangma, to resign within a week for lack of governance. The spokesperson for ANVC-B, Nawang K. Sangma, said somebody was "protecting" the GHADC chief. According to the outfit, P.K. Sangma should resign with dignity by this week. "Or else there will be series of protest from next week".
August 7: The Anti-Corruption wing of ANVC-B, has asked the GHADC chief executive member Purno K. Sangma to step down immediately.
July 30: SFs arrested 'chairperson' of GNLA, Champion R. Sangma, from Umkrem-Pyrdiwah area under East Khasi Hills District, on the Indo-Bangladesh border. "He has been arrested today, and the court has remanded him to 15 days' police custody," State DGP N. Ramachandran said. Champion's last reported assignment in uniform was as an assistant commandant at the 2nd Meghalaya Police Battalion in Goeragre near Tura, West Garo Hills District. In late 2009, Champion was reported to have left the police force to float the militant outfit along with former ANVC leader Sohan D. Shira. Shira is presently 'commander-in-chief' of GNLA. Some media report states that Sangma, was pushed back by Bangladesh.
July 24: In view of 12-hour bandh called by the ANVC-B, West Garo Hills administration has directed all the Government employees to attend their offices. The ANVC-B has called the bandh on July 24 to protest the recent killing of innocent civilians. The militant group also condemned the recent killing of two innocent school teachers and other civilians and the firing incident at East Garo Hills District by its rival group, the GNLA.
July 21: ANVC-B opened fire inside a dry fish stall in Williamnagar market in East Garo Hills District injuring one trader. The injured trader has been identified as Johinul Islam. He is stated to be out of danger.
June 22: The ANVC-B announced that it would relax the ongoing agitation in Garo hills for two weeks, as some time would be given to the 24 legislators from the region to make their intentions clear. "The ongoing agitation against the 24 legislators of Garo hills will be relaxed for two weeks. The ANVC (B) felt it necessary to give some time to the legislators to make their intentions clear before we start the third phase of agitation," Rimpu N. Marak, the 'chairman' of the outfit, said in a statement. "However, if nothing happens in these two weeks, then the third phase of agitation will start, where every legislator who fails to take up his responsibility as an elected representative will be boycotted," Marak said. For the past two weeks, the faction has been on agitation in the form of a one-hour shutter-down strike and night road blockade.
June 18: The ANVC-B has rescheduled the timing of their night blockade. The blockade will begin from 10 pm and continue till 5 am the next day. The ANVC-B meanwhile also has taken strong exception to the recent hike in bus/ sumo fares by the owners and operators without consulting the District authorities. They have demanded rollback of the fares and have asked the owners/ operators to come out with an open statement clarifying the reasons for raise in the fare.
June 15: The ANVC-B announced that from June 18 onwards a strike would be held, inclusive of a night road blockade. "After a weeklong one-hour shutter-down strike, the 24 MLAs of Garo hills are still unmoved and no one showed any responsibility towards the problems being faced by the common people. There has not been any effort made by even a single MLA to redress the power and water crisis," ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu N. Marak said in a statement. "If they still show no response in the coming week, then a total non-cooperation movement will be launched against the 24 legislators," he said. Marak said the third phase of agitation, which will start from June 25, will be nothing less than a total boycott of all the 24 legislators.
June 11: The ANVC-B said its "rise" has "brought down" the activities of the GNLA in Garo hills. "ANVC (B) just wants to make it clear that GNLA will not reign in Tura. We have no less than 50 cadres from Tura who wish to free Tura from their dominance. Same policy applies for other towns and villages," the group stated.
June 10: The GNLA accused the ANVC-B, of indulging in various unlawful activities and demanded that the law should be equal for everyone. In a statement, GNLA 'commander-in-chief' Sohan D. Shira said the State Police have been turning a blind eye to the unlawful activities of the ANVC-B. According to the statement, Shira said ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu Marak was bringing many youths into his fold, and until recently, had organised a training camp at Rongkon Megonggre where a recruit was allegedly beaten up for wanting to leave the group and was hospitalised. In addition, it is alleged that Marak is aiming to control South Garo Hills because the area is the richest in terms of mineral resources.

The GNLA has accused the Meghalaya Police of having a nexus with ANVC-B. They also alleged that ANVC-B always collect money in the name of GNLA, maligning the GNLA's name.

June 9: The ANVC-B has announced a 'one-hour' shutdown in the entire Garo Hills throughout next week, to protest against the alleged negligence of elected legislators of the region to address the general concerns of the people. The shutdown, from 12 pm-1 pm will begin from June 11, the ANVC-B said in a statement.
June 7: The CEM of the GHADC, Purno K Sangma, has finally responded to the pressure of the ANVC-B, and passed orders to put an end to illegal flow of outsiders and illegalities in the GHADC jurisdiction, the ANVC-B claimed. The ANVC-B however, made it clear that it would keep a close watch on how serious the CEM is on his assurance and order, and if there is no change in a month's time then the outfit will take up the issue again. The ANVC-B has also warned the Garo Hills legislators to address the woes of the people within one week.
June 5: 15 ANVC cadres are suspected to have joined the ANVC-B. The matter came to light when a head count of ANVC cadres was conducted in Tura Liaison Office. The head count, which was jointly conducted by senior officials of the State Police and those from Intelligence, was attended by 156 candidates. 16 cadres could not participate on due to their personal problem while other fifteen remaining cadres are suspected to have joined the ANVC-B. The headcount was necessitated to ascertain actual number of cadres to distribute their monthly salary pending since January. It may be mentioned that the mother organization, ANVC recently lodged a missing report of 15 cadres.
June 3: ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu N Marak has asked the GHADC CEM Purno K Sangma to resign by June 5. This comes after failing to respond to the voting right issue raised by the ANVC-B within a week's deadline.

ANVC 'publicity secretary' Arist Sangma said that ANVC may take action against one of its member, Sasan Sangma, if his alleged involvement in the trafficking of girls from Garo Hills for prostitution in the capital city Shillong is proved.

June 1: The Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh preferred to downplay the emergence of the ANVC-B. "A small fraction of a breakaway militant group does not worry the Union Government much," Singh said on the sidelines of his visit to the NEPA at Umsaw in Ri-Bhoi District. Singh, however, stayed away from commenting on the claim of the Meghalaya Government that the ANVC-B was a result of error in the tripartite ceasefire agreement signed between the Union Government, Meghalaya Government and the ANVC on July 23, 2004.
May 26: The ANVC-B has served a one-week ultimatum on GHADC CEM Purno K Sangma to either resign from the post or initiate action to protect the interests of the local indigenous people. In a letter addressed to the CEM, the ANVC-B asked him to either prove his capability as the CEM or resign on moral ground. According to the ANVC-B, the GHADC led by Sangma has failed to protect the common interests of the people and create avenues for growth of the locals.
May 24: The ANVC-B has issued a ten-day deadline to the 24 legislators of Garo Hills to look into the woes of the common people including water supply and constant power failure in Garo Hills. In a statement issued, the ANVC-B said, "If no solution is worked out in 10-days' time than we will take a very strong stand against the elected leaders."
May 23: The ANVC-B has warned all associations, organisations and individuals engaged in Illegal trading in Garo Hills to give up their ways. In a statement, the ANVC-B said, "Those using the name of the locals to get maximum benefit should stop these practices before we take any action."

ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu Marak has claimed that many educated youths, including engineering students, post-graduates and graduates, among others, were keen to join the rebel outfit in a bid to change society, reports The Telegraph. In a statement Marak said, "We welcome all young people who come to us opting to face hardships for a change in society, and our numbers are growing faster than any movement, with youths pouring in from all backgrounds, including engineering students, post-graduates, graduates and so on." The chairman also urged people to work together to uproot corruption, injustice and bad politics from society "if we want to see permanent change". "Many youths are not so hopeful of the future and they all seem to be just drifting," Marak said.

May 11: The ANVC-B has asserted that it is ready to enter into talks with the State Government over its demands. ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu N Marak said, "We are ready for talks as ultimately negotiation is the only way to solve the issues." "We expect that the Government will initiate the talks as soon as possible," Marak said. When asked about the demands of the outfit, Marak said that the outfit is not demanding for a separate Garo state but a separate administrative setup for Garos in general. "We want a separate setup so that development and prosperity can come in our areas," he added.
May 8: The ANVC has made it clear that all its cadres were part of the peace process from the very beginning contrary to the claim of Mukul Sangma that a faction of the outfit's ANVC cadres did not join the ceasefire agreement in 2004. On Mukost Marak deserting the ANVC, ANVC publicity secretary Arist Sengsrang Sangma said after Mukost was entrusted with the West Khasi Hills command, he was with the ANVC for long and it was only in February 2012 that he absconded and later declared himself as the 'commander-in-chief' of ANVC-B. The ANVC leader said so far only 15 ANVC cadres from the mother organisation joined the ANVC-B.
May 7: The ANVC-B congratulated the citizens of Garo Hills who came out openly against the bandh culture of GNLA. In a statement, 'Chairman' ANVC-B Rimpu N Marak said, "It is a victory over dictatorial reign of GNLA and we salute such courage."
May 5: The ANVC-B criticized the GNLA for calling a 144 hours bandh (shut down strike) which started on April 30. The bandh has brought the entire Garo Hills to a standstill. In a statement issued, ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu N Marak said this kind of stand on the part of GNLA "is turning peaceful life of common man in Garo Hills into misery."

The GNLA called the bandh demanding suspension of the ongoing counter-insurgency operations.

April 23: The ANVC-B has denied sharing any information regarding activities of GNLA and rival ANVC faction with Police. In an emailed statement on April 23, the 'personal security' to the 'chairman', ANVC-B Akimbri R. Marak said, "We have no connection with police either in information sharing or in operations." While calling upon the GNLA to stop the blame game, the ANVC-B asserted that "pulling a trigger is not a solution."
April 21: The breakaway faction of ANVC-B, in an open statement, warned that it would not allow any collection from traders in Garo Hills, saying that it indirectly contributes to inflated prices of essential commodities. In a statement issued to the press on April 21, Akimbri R Marak, 'personal secretary to chairman' ANVC-B, said that the high price of essential commodities has its roots in various taxes imposed by various organizations and also because of monopoly of goods.
April 17: The former ANVC spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak, who assumed charge as the 'chairman' of the ANVC-B and took the name of Rimpu N. Marak, said the outfit was still awaiting a positive response from the Meghalaya Government for dialogue. "We are waiting for an official communication from the state government so that a meeting can be held with the government representatives at the earliest," Marak said over phone from an undisclosed location. "The talks will be held within the framework of the Constitution and what we are looking at is the need to empower Garos living within the state and people residing in other Garo-dominated areas outside the state," he added.
April 11: Spokesperson for ANVC, Torik Marak has confirmed that he deserted the mother organization (pro truce ANVC) and joined the breakaway faction of ANVC (ANVC-B). In a statement, Marak said he did not want to be known by the name of Torik any longer, which was used when he was with the ANVC that is currently under ceasefire. Torik Marak alias Rimpu Bernard Marak was one of the main leaders of the ANVC, and recently the outfit had issued a week's ultimatum to him to get back to the organization after he went 'missing'. Marak also made it clear that he would not go back to the ANVC, but would remain with ANVC-B and pledged support to their 'commander-in-chief' Mokus Marak. He also said since the cadres had reposed faith in him, he would take up a new responsibility. Though Marak did not speak about the new responsibility, sources indicated that he was likely to be the 'chairman' of the breakaway group.

The ANVC-B has issued a strong warning against the supporters of the GNLA. Warning the supporters of the GNLA, 'joint secretary' of the ANVC-B, Rangdo R Marak stated that the warning is against all the patrons of the GNLA. "We will take strong action against all who host, support, give financial aid and provide assistance to GNLA," stated Marak adding that this goes to all politicians, businessmen, Nokmas, NGOs and individuals who are using GNLA as a tool for their own interest and exploiting the Garo society and resources of the land. The threat came days after the pro truce ANVC headed by Jerome Momin and Dilash Marak were reported to be lethargic in countering the GNLA. The GNLA, under the leadership of Sohan D Shira, deserted ANVC leader, have issued frequent threats to the ANVC.

April 9: The State Government asserted that it is ready to hold talks with the breakaway faction of the ANVC. The State Chief Secretary WMS Pariat informed that the State Government has already received feeler from this oufit for talks with the Government. However, according to Pariat, a meeting will be convened shortly to explore whether they should be brought under the ambit of previous tripartite peace agreement or to have separate truce pact. Nado R. Marak, who is the personal secretary to Mokus Marak, the 'commander in chief' of the breakaway outfit had said that the group would aspire for Greater Garoland and reiterated the need to have a separate truce agreement with the Government. Earlier, the breakaway faction had alleged that they were not included in the peace process by the senior leaders of the outfit. The Chief Secretary said the Government was also ascertaining what went wrong while signing the tripartite agreement with the Garo rebel group in 2004. Agreeing to the views of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, the Chief Secretary said it was the Centre which had initiated the move to sign the ceasefire agreement with the ANVC and the State was just a signatory.
April 6: The breakaway faction of ANVC said they would raise the demand for a greater Garoland and also go for a separate truce with the Government. Nado R. Marak, personal secretary to Mokus Marak, the 'commander-in-chief' of the breakaway faction said, "The group will still aspire for a greater Garoland and we would like to come to a separate truce with the government." The original demand of the ANVC was for greater Garoland, which includes all the three Districts of Garo hills, and Garo-dominated areas of West Khasi Hills as well as Goalpara and Kamrup Districts in Assam. Nado said the split in ANVC took place in July 2004, when a section of the ANVC leaders, including Sohan D. Shira, the current 'commander-in-chief' of the GNLA, signed a ceasefire agreement and came over ground. "After disowning the breakaway group, the leaders of the ANVC went on denying the presence of ANVC (breakaway), and they are also unwilling to accept our existence," Nado added.
April 3: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma admitted that several ANVC cadres had skipped the attention of the then Government when the ceasefire agreement was signed with the outfit in July 2004. Referring to the reported split in the ANVC, Sangma said, "There were deficiencies and the ceasefire process was not done properly." He added the breakaway faction of the ANVC is that group which remained at large and was never a part of the talks when the outfit and the Government entered into a tripartite peace agreement. "It came to the notice of the Government last year (2011) that there is still an armed group which did not come overground," he observed.

The breakaway faction of the ANVC has claimed that they were not made part of the CFA by their leaders. The State Government has already taken up the matter with the Home Minister P Chidambaram. As reported earlier, a breakaway faction of the ANVC has surfaced with Mokust Marak as its head. Around 300 cadres have reportedly gone back to jungle.

ANVC 'publicity secretary' Ares Sengsrang Sangma has neither confirmed nor denied reported split in the outfit.

April 2: The breakaway faction of the ANVC has warned the GNLA to restrain from causing more damages to already battered Garo society. In an emailed statement, the 'personal secretary' to Mokus Marak (leader of the breakaway faction), Nado R. Marak said, "The GNLA is even demanding money from Garo officers and doctors." While refusing to call them as the anti-talk faction of the outfit, Marak said that they are not against dialogue "as ultimately negotiation is the only way to find solution to any problem."

The Meghalaya Government will soon communicate to ANVC on a mechanism which does not come into conflict either with the State Government or with the GHADC, while finalising the outfit's demand for the formation of a GAC. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said, "We are working out a mechanism and the same will be presented to the ANVC soon to get their feedback," Sangma said. The ANVC, in its memorandum related to the formation of GAC, had made it clear that the outfit's demand, if fulfilled, would be different from the existing GHADC, as there will be direct funding from the Centre for the new autonomous body as demanded by them. Another proposal by the ANVC is that senior Government officials will be appointed under GAC to supervise the administration to maintain transparency and accountability.

April 1: The State Government is verifying reports of split in the ANVC which is currently under a tripartite ceasefire agreement with the Union Government and the Government of Meghalaya. State Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said that the Government is not aware of any split in the ANVC as yet.
March 30: ANVC, which is on a tripartite ceasefire agreement with the Government of India and the Government of Meghalaya, finally split which may have an impact on the ongoing peace process. A leader from the anti talks faction of ANVC, said that around 300 cadres, including 'officers', have joined the anti-talk faction of the ANVC. "The designated ANVC camps are isolated and many cadres have returned to the jungles", the leader added. When asked why the split, the leader blamed the peace talks which have become a non-starter as a result of which the cadres are dissatisfied. The lukewarm response of the Government of India to the ANVC demand for a GAC is one reason for the dissatisfaction of the cadres. "Another reason which forced the cadres to return to jungle was to safeguard the common people from the pressure GNLA and the motive is to bring down the activities of GNLA," the leader added. The ANVC earlier had demanded a separate State for Garos but later climbed down to the demand for a GAC. The anti-talks faction is allegedly headed by Mukost Marak, a hardliner who had earlier allegedly killed four coal mine labourers in Nangalbibra on November 17, 2010 and was in hiding for a long time.

Earlier in February it was reported that the ANVC was heading for a virtual split. At the time the pro-truce faction of the ANVC had denied that there was any split in the outfit.

ANVC came out in support of the Statehood demand of several NGOs and student bodies during the public rally held in Tura, West Garo Hills. The leader of GNC, Clifford Marak, who initiated the Statehood demand, said that ANVC 'chairman' Dilash Marak, who spoke during the public rally, appraised the gathering about the need for creating a separate Garo State.

February 28: State Government has assured the ANVC that the issue of creation of a GAC in Garo Hills would be taken up after the Budget session of the Assembly. This comes after the end of the deadline set by the ANVC on February 21 to respond to its demand for the GAC.
February 20: The ANVC has threatened to revive its old demand for greater Garoland, a separate State for Garos including the Garo-inhabited areas of Assam and West Khasi Hills, if the Government failed to respond to its demand for the GAC within a week. ANVC spokesperson Torik Marak blamed the State Government for delaying the formation of the GAC though the Union Government was keen on forming the body. During the meeting in Shillong on February 19, Union home minister P. Chidambaram said talks with the ANVC, under ceasefire since 2004, would continue.
February 2: Reacting to the news that ANVC is heading for a split, Wanding Marak 'general secretary' of ANVC denied that there was any split in the outfit. The ANVC said it was united on the issue of Garoland Autonomous Council to clear rumours about a split in the outfit. There have been reports on differences among the leaders on the issue of achieving the demand of Garoland Autonomous Council.

The ANVC has appreciated the Central Government's move branding the GNLA as a terrorist outfit.

February 1: The ANVC which is on a tripartite ceasefire agreement with the Government of India and the Government of Meghalaya is heading for a split. Sources said that Mukost Marak will take over as the 'commander in chief' of the new faction while Rimpu Barnard N Marak will be its new 'chairman' and Dilseng the 'general secretary'. It is learnt that Barnard Marak was collecting arms as Dilash Marak, the 'Chairman' of the ANVC has stopped supplying them with arms. The split comes as a result of the dissatisfaction in a section of cadres at the lukewarm response of the Government of India to the ANVC demand for a Garoland Autonomous Council along the lines of the Bodoland Autonomous Council which in many ways is a State within a State.
January 29: The HNLC and GNLA, of Meghalaya are shifting their bases in Bangladesh towards the Tripura border.
January 25: The ANVC has warned that its cadres would be forced to break the ceasefire agreement and take up arms to protect themselves if the GNLA continued to target its cadres. Taking strong cognizance of the GNLA's bid to kill three ANVC cadres, its spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said, "Situation will be worsened if the GNLA continues to target our cadres." A group of around 15 armed GNLA cadres had made a failed attempt to kill three ANVC at Soksan village under Mendipathar Police station in East Garo Hills on January 24. Marak also urged the State Government to provide security to the ANVC cadres who are currently under ceasefire agreement.

2011

December 20: At least 180 ANVC militants, currently in ceasefire with the Central Government, have not been receiving their allowance of INR 3,000 each for the last six months.
December 8: BSF arrested one Achik Special Dragon Party, a Bangladesh based outfit and former ANVC cadre, identified as Kumen Sangma, while he was trying to infiltrate into India. According to the BSF, the arrested cadre has close connections with the GNLA and helps them in their trans-border activities.
December 4: After the GNLA accused the ANVC of killing and terrorizing people, the latter has reiterated its desire to work with the State Government to neutralize the GNLA. In a statement, ANVC spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said, "If needed ANVC will work with the Government to wipe out GNLA."
December 1: The Centre has asked the State Government to firm up its mind on the demand of the ANVC, currently under ceasefire, to have a Garoland Autonomous Council on the lines of the Bodoland Territorial Council. The recent signing of a settlement with the UPDS has also prompted the Centre to speed up finalising settlements with other militants groups in the Northeast.
November 29: The ANVC urged the coal exporters of Garo Hills to immediately stop exporting coal to neighbouring Bangladesh. The appeal comes in wake of unconfirmed reports that the GNLA 'chairman' Champion Sangma has been detained in Bangladesh and he is presently under the custody of Bangladeshi authorities. Speaking to The Shillong Times, ANVC spokesperson Torik Jangnnign Marak said that the coal traders should immediately stop exporting coal to Bangladesh so that Bangladesh Government will come under pressure and hand over Champion Sangma to India.
November 7: The report on the 'secret killings' by the ANVC militants will be submitted before the State Cabinet for further discussions. The State Government had ordered for a probe after GNLA accused the ANVC of masterminding 'secret killings' of several Garo youths.
October 19: Centre's interlocutor PC Haldar said that the Union Government is still examining the political demands of the Garo militant outfit, ANVC, which is currently under ceasefire agreement, for creation of the Garoland Territorial Council in line with that of the Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam. "We have had a discussion with the ANVC on this matter. The Union Government is still examining their demand," Haldar, who is the Centre's interlocutor for talks with ULFA, ANVC and other militant groups in Assam, said. He however said that no specific time line has been set by the Union Government.
October 18: The one-man inquiry committee, constituted to probe 'secret killing' by the ANVC militants, has submitted its report. This was informed by the Commissioner and Secretary (Commissioner of Division Tura) Peter W Ingty, who headed the panel. The ANVC was accused of killing several Garo youths by the GNLA. The GNLA had accused the ANVC cadres of indulging into 'secret killings'.
October 17: The ANVC leaders are likely to meet the State Government officials shortly to discuss creation of a Garoland Territorial Council. Indicating this, the outfit's spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said, "We will be meeting the top officials to know the Government's stand on our various demands including creation of a territorial council". The Centre has already directed the State Government to submit its recommendations on various demands of the Garo militant outfit under ceasefire with the Central government.
October 11: The Meghalaya Government has sought more time to finalise the long-pending demands of the Garo hills-based militant outfit, the ANVC despite the Centre's request to speed up the process. Chief minister Mukul Sangma, during his recent visit to Delhi, met Union home minister P. Chidambaram and discussed the settlement of ANVC's demands. The key demands of the ANVC, currently in ceasefire, include creation of a Garoland autonomous council on the lines of the Bodoland Territorial Council and direct funding from the Centre for the administration of the proposed council. The Centre had earlier sought the state's views on ANVC's demands and subsequently a high-level committee was formed to give its final views on the issue.

The ANVC had submitted its charter of demands to the Prime Minister and the home minister besides the state political leaders. However, the State Government has viewed the demand of the ANVC to have a separate council and to have direct funding from the Centre as a contentious issue, which required further deliberation.

The tripartite ceasefire agreement between the Centre, State Government and the ANVC was extended by another year effective from October 1.

September 18: ANVC had asked the GNLA to shun the path of violence. ANVC Spokesman Torik Jangning Marak said ''we appeal to the GNLA to lay down arms and follow our path of peaceful negotiation.'' GNLA has given a call for 300 hours dawn-to-dusk bandh (General shut down) in the three Garo Hills Districts, namely East, West and South Garo Hills.

The GNLA has 'rescheduled' its proposed bandh by withdrawing its threat of closure on September 30 and the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations.

September 5: Opposition leader Conrad Sangma said the law and order situation of Garo hills would definitely figure during the Assembly session along with other important issues. While there is a rise in violent activities of GNLA in the form of abduction, extortion and killings, ANVC, currently under ceasefire, has asked the GNLA to stop violence in Garo hills.
September 4: The ANVC, currently under ceasefire, has welcomed the inquiry instituted by the Meghalaya Government to probe the alleged secret mass killings by the militant outfit. ANVC spokesperson Arist Marak said the outfit would co-operate with the investigation and will have nothing to hide any information. The probe is based on a demand by the GNLA who had earlier, accused the ANVC of indulging in 'secret killings' of civilians.
September 1: The GNLA announced four days of bandh (general shut down) beginning on September 9 with intervals if the Government does not respond to their demand by September 8. The outfit has demanded an inquiry into the "secret killing" of innocent youths by the ANVC in West Garo Hills.
August 25: The ANVC termed the GNLA as a stooge of the Assam based anti talk militant groups that are under the control of Pakistani ISI. Reiterating its stand that the GNLA in league with the anti-talk groups from Assam are trying to exploit the people and to disturb the ongoing peace process in Garo hills, the ANVC leader said that his cadres will go to any extent to thwart such exploitative elements.
August 18: In the face of severe criticism from several corners, Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said the State Government would never take the support of ANVC in the operation against the GNLA currently underway in Garo Hills, a remark which is in deviation from his earlier statement wherein he had welcomed the ANVC 'offer of help'. He clarified that taking their support would mean allowing the ANVC to again carry arms which is not acceptable.
August 17: The ANVC issuing a 'quit Garo Hills notice' to ULFA and NDFB, the NDFB said that the ANVC "has no right to chase them out" because the outfit does not have any base in Garo Hills. "We are also fighting for the people. If the ANVC doesn't want our people living in Garo Hills, we urge the ANVC to take the Garos living in places in Assam like Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Kamrup etc," said NDFB's 'corporal' D Mingki.
August 16: The ANVC, currently under ceasefire, has set a 20-day deadline for the NDFB and ULFA militants to move out of Garo hills. The stand of the ANVC comes in the wake of the GNLA terrorising people of the region with the support of the two outfits. The earlier report in this regard did not mention the deadline.
August 15: The ANVC told ULFA and NDFB to leave the Garo Hills region saying the two outfits were associated with Pakistan's ISI.

"They (ULFA and NDFB) are under direct influence of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and were involved in various attacks in Garo Hills in the last couple of months. They should quit Garo Hills in the next 20 days starting from today (Monday)," ANVC Spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said. In a statement, Marak accused the ULFA and NDFB together with the GNLA with having killed more than eight people including three Meghalaya Policemen in the recent past.

The war of words between GNLA and the ANVC and the growing threat perception over the outfits' declaration war on each other is making residents and NGOs of Garo hills jittery. Though the ANVC had been making mild threats in the past, the sudden decision to go on the offensive came after the GNLA decided to call a bandh (general shut down) in Garo hills on August 16 in protest against the killing of four of its cadres on August 9. SFs had killed the four militants, including 'deputy commander-in-chief' of GNLA, Savio Marak, based on information passed by an undercover Policeman, Hubert Marak. Hubert, who had acted a Police deserter to infiltrate the GNLA, had stayed with the outfit for ten days, during which he passed vital information to Police.

August 3: The State Government has welcomed a recent offer by the ANVC to assist in the ongoing operation against the GNLA. Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said "We would be more than happy to accept the ANVC offer to assist the Government in the operation against the GNLA. We would welcome the support of any group to end militancy in Garo Hills".
July 18: The ANVC, a militant outfit under ceasefire, said in a press release that if the GNLA was aware of what ANVC was capable of, then it would be best for it not to attempt anything that would harm the people of Meghalaya, the Garos in particular. "If the GNLA is seriously talking about the Garoland issue and the Achik's cause, they should lay down arms and surrender instead of causing tremendous hardship to the people of Garo Hills. The NDFB and the ULFA should leave Garo Hills immediately as it has been proved that the NDFB was involved in the killing of three policemen at Medipathar and the killing at Williamnagar. It has also been proved that the ULFA was involved in the killing of five coal labourers at Goka," the press release said. The ANVC said the GNLA should stop this practice of "authorizing killing of own brethren by outsiders".
July 13: In what can be an indication of intensified rivalry between two militant outfits of Garo Hills, the ANVC has accused the GNLA of trying to poach its cadres by offering up to INR 3 Million. "The GNLA tried to buy our cadres with offers up to Rs 30 lakh," ANVC spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said in a statement on July 14. The outfit also alleged that GNLA cadres are assuming names (alias) similar to ANVC leaders. The ANVC, currently under ceasefire with the Government, had alleged that the GNLA is in cahoots with the NDFB and the ULFA. The GNLA had also cautioned the State Government not to entertain the ANVC's appeal to allow its cadres to carry weapons "to protect themselves from the GNLA".

The deployment of two COBRA units of the CRPF and five companies of specially trained BSF personnel to assist the State Police in Garo hills explained the gravity of the subversive activities being carried by the GNLA. Admitting that the GNLA activities have increased in recent months, a senior Police official involved in monitoring the Police operations, however, rubbished the notion that the State police had failed to curb the activities of the militant outfit. "In the type of situation that we are involved, there were occasions that we were down, but overall success rate should be appreciated," stated the Police official. He said that seven GNLA camps had been busted in the past six months. He said that this was no ordinary achievement.

July 7: The ANVC, currently under a truce with the Government of India, has now asked for its arms, which they had deposited at the time of the ceasefire in 2004, back for "protection" from the GNLA. The outfit wrote a letter to state Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh asking for the arms following killing of a mentally deranged person by suspected GNLA cadres near an ANVC designated camp at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills District recently. The ANVC has around 16 arms, including AK series rifles and pistols, deposited in a locked armoury in custody of Tura Police. The outfit has also asserted that the GNLA is working with the ISI of Pakistan. The ANVC demanding for a Garoland Autonomous Council had entered into a tripartite ceasefire with the Central and the State governments on July 23, 2004.
June 21: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had asked the State Government to speed up the process of sending its recommendations on the demands of the ANVC. Leaders of the militant outfit recently met the Centre's interlocutor P.C. Haldar and Joint Secretary, MHA, S Singh in New Delhi to apprise them of the delay on the part of the State Government in sending the recommendations. The ANVC's main demand is creation of GAC in line with the BTC in Assam.
June 6: The banned ANVC, a militant group in Meghalaya, expressed concern on the slow pace of political negotiation for the creation of an autonomous council. "We are not happy with the inordinate delay of the political negotiations. We will be leaving for Delhi in a day or two to raise the issue," ANVC spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said. During their proposed visit to New Delhi, the ANVC leaders would meet Centre interlocutor Pradyot Chandra Haldar and Joint Secretary Ministry of Home Affairs for North East Shambu Singh.
May 8: The current instability in the ruling Mukul Sangma led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) Government has not only affected functioning of the Government machinery, but also hampered the peace process with the ANVC. The ANVC which is under a "Suspension of Operation" agreement with the government is concerned that processing of their demands would be delayed further if there is yet another Government change.

ANVC spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said, "Everything will have to be started from the scratch if a new government comes to power." Political instability in the MUA Government has been going on for nearly six months in the wake of dissidence in the ruling Congress against the leadership of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.

The outfit has been demanding for creation of a GAC in line with the BTC in Assam. The State Government is believed to be at the final stage of drafting its recommendations on the ANVC demand for GAC to be submitted to the Union Government.

March 22: The Union Government extended the ceasefire with the ANVC, a militant outfit in Meghalaya, by another three months till June 22. The decision to extend the six-year-old tripartite truce between the Union Government and Meghalaya Government and the ANVC was taken after intense negotiations. The meeting was attended by Joint Secretary in Home Ministry (North East Affairs-in-charge) Naveen Verma, Meghalaya Principal Resident Commissioner AK Bhalla and ANVC ‘General Secretary’ Wanding K Marak. "We have agreed in principle that the ceasefire will be extended for another three months from this day," ANVC ‘spokesman’ Arist Sangma told after the joint monitoring group meeting in New Delhi. ANVC, a tribal Garo militant outfit operating in Garo Hills region of Meghalaya, is fighting for creation of Garoland Territorial Council. It had entered into a tripartite ceasefire with the central and the Meghalaya Governments on July 23, 2004. The ceasefire was to expire on March 31.
March 14: Setting condition for talks, the ANVC has asked PC Haldar, the Union Government’s peace interlocutor to hold meeting with them at Tura, the District Headquarters of West Garo hills District. "The government has invited us to Shillong for a meeting with Haldar, but we have asked the government to hold the meeting in Tura," ANVC’s spokesman, Arist Sangma said. However, Government officials said they are yet to receive ANVC’s request. Haldar is scheduled to arrive in Shillong on March 15 to meet Meghalaya Government officials and ANVC leaders on March 16. The six-year-old tripartite ceasefire agreement which was signed in July 2004 between the Centre, Meghalaya Government and the ANVC will expire on March 31. The outfit had threatened to return to armed struggle over the centre’s unilateral decision to have a periodic ceasefire agreement rather than the indefinite one, besides government dismissing its demand for creation of a Garo Territorial Council.

However, the ANVC had decided to seek views from the public representatives on whether the outfit should continue the ceasefire agreement or return to its armed struggle. Chief Minister DD Lapang who also favored the extension of ceasefire agreement with ANVC said that the people in Garo hills did not want return of violence in Garo Hills. Earlier, the UAPF also favored extension of the cease-fire agreement between the banned militant outfits. "We want the government to extend the tripartite ceasefire agreement with the ANVC to ensure peace in the Garo Hills,’’ UAPF Chairman, president G C R Marak said.

2010

December 20: The ANVC dropped a strong hint of going back to its earlier demand for a separate Garoland while blaming the State Government for the slow progress of the negotiation process. The State Government is yet to file its recommendations to the Centre on the outfit's key demands. The ANVC spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said, "We have come down from our earlier demand with a hope of finding an early solution to all the issues, but the State Government is taking us quite lightly."
October 6: The State Government will submit its final views on the various demands of the ANVC to the Union Government within three months. "The Government is examining the outfit's memorandum in which the demand for creation of a Garoland Autonomous Council in Garo Hills is made," Chief Secretary W.M.S Pariat. "We will submit our views to the Centre within three months," Pariat said. The ceasefire between the Union Government and the ANVC was extended without any time frame on September 30.
September 14: The ANVC said the outfit is ready to support the civic elections in Garo Hills if it did not harm the interest of the Garo people. "We may support the election provided it does not reduce the status of Garo people in the municipal areas," ANVC spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said. He, however, said the Government should first settle the ANVC issue before going for the civic elections in Garo Hills in view of the outfit''s demand for constitution of ''Garoland Autonomous District Council'' in the line of the Bodoland Territorial Area Council in Assam.
August 30: Meghalaya Government would go for peace talks with the ANVC. State Chief Secretary W.M.S. Pariat said, "We are trying to expedite the entire talk process." While defending the Government for the delay in talks, the Chief Secretary said, "These matters require a lot of ground work and hence the delay."
August 29: The Meghalaya Government assured the ANVC of releasing the funds for maintaining the outfit's designated camps. "We are committed to release the funds by Tuesday," State Chief Secretary W.M.S. Pariat said.
August 25: The Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram said that it is a matter of great satisfaction that a number of groups are engaged in talks with the Government of India. Among them are National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), pro-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Nunisa faction of the Dima Halim Daogah (DHD), Black Widow (BW), United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), Kuki National Organization (KNO) and United Peoples Front (UPF), he said. H further added, "We have appointed two Interlocutors: RS Pandey to talk to the NSCN (IM) and PC Haldar to talk to NDFB (PT), DHD (Nunisa), DHD (J), KLNLF, UPDS and ANVC, besides ULFA [United Liberation Front of Asom]."
August 24: The ANVC claimed that the outfit's designated camps are in serious crisis due to non-availability of funds for several months. The ANVC submitted a letter to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma through West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal to intervene in the matter. "We have not received even a single penny in the last 10 months from the Central Government to maintain our camps…The fund flow was smooth when it was coming directly from the Union Home Ministry," ANVC spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said.
July 22: A delegation of the Nongalbibra Coal Merchants Association (NCMA) met the leaders of the ANVC to clarify the recent reports about the outfit's alleged involvement in connection with the ongoing coal export trade and agreed that it was blown out of proportion, according to Shillong Times. Leaders of the NCMA, led by its president Kennedy Marak and general secretary Willibirth R. Sangma along with other office bearers called on ANVC 'publicity secretary' Arist Sengsrang N. Sangma at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills District and stated that the recent statement by the NCMA against the ANVC was created by a section of vested interest groups that were bent on creating a rift and trouble in the Garo Hills. The ANVC leader on his part reiterated that the organisation stood for the well being of the people of Garo Hills.
July 8: A delegation of the ANVC met Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and submitted a memorandum including the key demand for creation of a Garoland Territorial Council on the lines of the Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam. ANVC spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said, "The talks are going in the right direction and we are hopeful of an early solution to our demands."
June 30: The ANVC asked for indefinite extension of ceasefire agreement with the Union Government. The ceasefire term between the Government and the outfit expires after a three-month extension in March 2010.

The Union Government extended the tripartite cease-fire agreement with the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) for another three months. "It has been agreed that the SoO [Suspension of Operation] with ANVC which was expired today would be extended for a further period of three months from tomorrow," an official statement issued on June 30 said. The discussions on the demands of ANVC are on at the level of P.C. Halder, the interlocutor for peace talks with the outfit, the statement added.

June 29: Shillong Times reports that the ANVC has started shifting its cadres to "undisclosed camps". ANVC spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said, "The Government has not given us any clear indication on the extension of the truce and so we have shifted our cadres to undisclosed camps for their security." Admitting that they have got positive signal from the Centre for the extension of the truce, Marak said, "We are waiting for the recommendation of the State Government and will soon meet the Government." The ceasefire would expire on June 30. The report adds that there are around 175 cadres of the ANVC in outfit''s camps in different places of Garo Hills.
June 22: The ANVC claimed that the outfit’s cease-fire with both the Centre and the State was for an indefinite period and not for the three months agreed upon on March 23 in New Delhi.
June 6: Sentinel reports that 13 militant organizations from the Northeast States of Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya figure in the list of banned organizations as it appears in the website of the Union Home Ministry (MHA). The ULFA heads the list. The other outfits were: NDFB, People's Liberation Army (PLA), and United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Revolutionary party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kanglei Yaol Kanna Lup (KYKL), Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF), Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and ANVC.

Hardly 20 days left for expiry of the cease-fire agreement between the ANVC and the Union Government, the insurgent outfit said it would prefer short-term extension of the agreement. ANVC spokesperson Torik Jangning Marak said, "We are likely to seek three months extension of the ceasefire agreement." The report adds that the next meeting between the ANVC and the Centre’s interlocutor P.C. Haldar would be held in June 2010.
May 31: The ANVC submitted a 12-page memorandum to the Union Government, spelling out the details of its demand for setting up a Garo Autonomous Council.
May 26: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma met Center’s interlocutor P. C. Haldar. After the meeting, the Chief Minster said the State Government is still examining various demands of the ANVC including creation of a separate Garoland autonomous council. The report adds that the cease-fire agreement between the group and the Government was extended for another three months in March 2010 and the Garo group also had a meeting with Haldar in Shillong on March 16 to discuss their different demands. The outfit earlier had also threatened to break the tripartite cease-fire agreement with the Centre, if the latter fails to fulfill their various demands.
April 30: Police sources reports that ANVC is currently divided into three groups. Police said that the first major group belongs to those cadres whose primary interest is to be rich by means of extortion. "Most of the cadres belonging to this group have already associated themselves with the new militant outfit GNLA [Garo National Liberation Army] led by Meghalaya Police 'DSP' Champion R. Marak," Police sources said on April 30. The GNLA has been under the Police scanner for serving extortion notes, ranging from INR 500, 000 to ten million , to petrol pump owners, coal dealers and businessmen in the coal-rich Districts of Garo Hills. Police sources said the second group includes mostly the top leaders, who are involved in peace talks with the Government. "These top leaders of the ANVC are also living lavish lifestyle," Police sources added. On the other hand, the third group with a very few numbers includes those who wanted to return to the mainstream. "Most of them are ANVC members for namesake only. They are fed up with the outfit's activities," Police sources said.

Meghalaya Governor R. S. Mooshahary earlier stated that "ANVC is losing its strength and credibility."
April 5: ANVC asked the Meghalaya Police to set up a cell to monitor the movement of deserters who have joined other militant groups and are allegedly engaging in extortion.
March 28: Pakchara R. Sangma, a 'Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)' of the Meghalaya Police, who remained missing for the last many months, issued a press statement 'confirming' himself as the 'chairman' of the GNLA outfit and threatened to take on the ANVC, accusing its of 'harassing' the weaker sections of the Garo society.
March 22: The meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) on extension of cease-fire with the Meghalaya based ANVC was held in New Delhi. The Centre extended the cease-fire with the ANVC by three months. "A revised ceasefire agreement was signed by ANVC at the meeting of Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Group held in New Delhi," an official source said. Sources said ANVC assured "to adhere to the ceasefire ground rules and have better control on the camps and the cadre".
March 19: The Meghalaya Governor R. S. Mooshahary expressed concern over mushrooming of militant groups in Garo hills and the activities of Assam-based outfits along the border. The Governor said that recent developments, such as reports on the formation of militant groups in Garo hills, were a cause of concern. Other militant groups active in Garo hills are LAEF, People's Liberation Front of Meghalaya (PLF-M), Achik National Security Defence (ANSD), Atong Liberation Army (ALA), and United Achik National Front (UANF). ULFA and NDFB are also active in Garo hills and border of Ri Bhoi District. The Governor said that the Government was committed to contain militancy at all costs. The Governor added that the security establishment of the State has acted swiftly to break up and contain the activities of the Hynniewtrep Liberation Front (HLF) in Khasi hills, and LAEF in the Garo hills. He said the activities of the local militant organisations like the HNLC and ANVC have been substantially controlled.
March 18: A senior Police Officer of Meghalaya in the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) joined the GNLA, the newly formed militant outfit in Garo Hills. According to sources, DSP Champion R. Marak recently joined the outfit after he had gone missing for quite sometime. He joined the Police Force in 2004 and belonged to Songsak region of East Garo Hills. The report adds that GNLA is being led by the DSP Champion Marak while former ANVC ‘area commander’ of East Garo Hills, Sohan D. Shira, is believed to be the ‘commander in chief’. The group is also said to be in close ties with the NSCN-IM and presently has 20 well-armed cadres who have recently served extortion notes demanding huge amounts of ransom in East and South Garo Hills. The group is also trying to wean away many of the disgruntled ANVC cadres who are annoyed with their leadership over the handling of the ongoing peace process.
March 17: The Centre has expressed concern over violation of conditions of the cease-fire with the ANVC. Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang, who called on Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi, apprised him of the outcome of March 16 talks between the ANVC and Centre's interlocutor P C Haldar. Chidambaram told the Chief Minister that there had been instances of violation of conditions of the suspension of operation (SoO). But at the same time the Centre would like to continue the SoO with the outfit, he said. Chidambaram assured that all necessary steps would be taken by the Centre to maintain peace and tranquillity in Meghalaya. The Home Minister asked Lapang to assess the ground realities and suggest suitable measures for the successful culmination of the peace process.

The ANVC said that the group would seek public opinion whether the group would go for periodic cease-fire or indefinite cease-fire.
March 16: The ANVC, after meeting the Centre's interlocutor P.C. Haldar in Shillong, withdrew the threat of pulling out from the cease-fire agreement and agreed to Centre's proposal for periodic agreement with a validity of three months. After the talks, ANVC ''spokesperson'' Torik Jangning Marak said the outfit would not pull out from the ceasefire as "it would affect the prevailing peaceful atmosphere of Garo Hills". "ANVC is not pulling out from the agreement yet we are not happy about as it was a unilateral decision which was taken in the last meeting to have periodic ceasefire," he said. Meanwhile, Telegraph reports that the Centre decided to examine the ANVC's demand for an autonomous body like a Garoland Territorial Council.
March 15: The ANVC agreed to sit for peace talks with the Union Government in Shillong, capital of Meghalaya. The ANVC ‘publicity secretary’ Arist Sangma said they had agreed to come to Shillong for the talks with the Centre''s interlocutor P. C. Haldar following a request from the Meghalaya Government.
March 14: The ANVC asked for holding the peace talks at Tura in West Garo Hills District instead of capital Shillong. "We have received a letter from the government that the talks with Haldar will be held in Shillong, but we want the meeting to be held in Tura," the ANVC publicity secretary Arist Sangma said. "As our demands are concerning Garo Hills, the interlocutor should come to Tura instead of Shillong to hold the discussion," he explained. "There is a need to have a change in the venue and we hope that the government will look into the matter," Sangma said.
March 13: The ANVC denied its involvement in the abduction of a coal trader Nokma Chongrin Marak of Garo Hills and instead accused the GNLA outfit of attempting to derail the ongoing peace process. The ANVC ‘spokesperson’ and ‘chief organising secretary’ Torik Jangning Marak said, "We are in the negotiating table for the last 6 years having shunned the path of violence with a positive attitude and opting for a permanent solution. The allegation (by GNLA) is a desperate attempt to derail the peace process." "ANVC chairman Dilash Marak has no hand in the abduction of Nokma Chongrin Marak and most of the extortions and demand notes are being served by the new outfit (GNLA). Soon we will send representatives to the government for a joint operation in Garo Hills," Torik Jangning Marak said.
March 11: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Mukul Sangma asked Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram to initiate all steps for peace and development of the Garo Hill Districts for a logical conclusion of the tripartite accord with the ANVC. After meeting Chidambaram, the Deputy Chief Minister said following the suspension of operations against the militants way back in July 2004, there was an overall improvement of law-and-order situation in the region. "But there is confusion and uncertainties in Garo Hill due to the indication of expiry of the ‘suspension of operation’ (SoO) on March 31 by the Home Ministry," he pointed out.
March 8: The ANVC said that it would seek a plebiscite on whether to continue with the tripartite peace talks, after the Centre took an ‘arbitrary’ decision to extend the cease-fire only periodically.
March 7: A three-day conclave of the ANVC concluded at Balonggre, in the outskirts of Tura town in West Garo Hills District. The conclave was attended by a conglomerate of Non Governmental Organisations, student and social organizations, church elders, senior citizens, public representatives from Assam and political activists from Meghalaya to discuss ways to push forward the tripartite peace talks. The people who attended the conclave expressed apprehension over the last Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) meet between the ANVC, Meghalaya Government and Union Government at Tura in which the central delegation was in favour of a periodical cease-fire extension in place of an indefinite one citing violation of ground rules. In the JMG meeting, the Government delegation had accused the ANVC of giving its support to a new militant group- Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) and engaging in sporadic extortion, an accusation the outfit denied. The ANVC, on the other hand, has expressed disappointment that its charter of demands with its main focus of creating a Garoland Territorial Council has not been seriously considered which, according to the group, is a ‘benign’ and ‘reasonable’ demand within the ambit of the Indian Constitution.
February 23: The Union Government modified the previous decision of indefinite cease-fire extension with the ANVC to that of periodical extensions in a Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) meeting at Tura.
February 7: Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang in the Conference of Chief Ministers on Internal Security asked the Centre to go for a tripartite political and development accord with the ANVC to bring the ongoing peace process to a logical conclusion. He also stated that insurgent outfits like ULFA, National Socialist Council of Nagaland, NDFB and UPDS are not only supporting groups like LAEF, but also providing them arms, ammunition and training. He said that insurgent outfits both from the Northeast and adjoining Bangladesh were also using the peaceful State of Meghalaya both as temporary sanctuary and corridor. Lapang further claimed that both ANVC and HNLC have been largely neutralised with a sustained Police operation. But passive militancy is still a cause for concern, he further added.
January 3: The ANVC accuses the Union Government of delaying discussion on its demand for constitution of a separate Garoland Autonomous Council (GAC), a self-governing body for the Garo Hills. The ANVC ‘publicity secretary’ Arist Sengsrang Sangma said, "We have come down from our demand for a separate Garoland and now the Centre should initiate discussion to facilitate the creation of the council."

2009

December 11: The ANVC outfit states that its fight for a separate Garoland would gain momentum with the Centre initiating the process for the creation of Telangana. The outfit’s ‘publicity secretary’, Arist Sangma, said with the Centre taking steps to create a Telangana State, the outfit’s demand would also be justified in the days to come. "Our demand is very much genuine and we are not asking for the sun or moon, but a separate state within India unlike other militant groups, which are demanding sovereignty," Sangma said.
September 29: Meghalaya Police has reportedly sought the help of the ANVC to neutralise other militant groups in the Garo Hills. The ANVC leader Arist Sangma said that the outfit was ready to help the Meghalaya Police.
September 14: The ANVC demanded an autonomous status for the Garo hills with "less or no interference" from the Meghalaya Government. The 'publicity secretary' of the ANVC, Arist Sengsrang Sangma, suggested the creation of an autonomous body like "Garoland Territorial Council" which can govern itself without any interference from the State Government. According to Sangma, the idea of formation of a "Garoland Territorial Council" for Garo hills, in line with the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), was welcome, but there should be less interference from the State Government and more autonomy to the body, unlike the BTC. "We are yet to suggest any name for the autonomous body, which can politically safeguard the interests of the people of Garo hills with more powers, wider functions and without the interference of the state government," Sangma said. "By autonomy to Garo hills, we do not mean the one prevailing in the existing Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, which is still under the direct supervision of the state government," he added. He also said that once autonomy for Garo hills was realised, the militant group would demand direct funding from the Centre, unlike the present District Councils in the State which get funds from the State Government. Responding to a suggestion made by the Joint Secretary (in charge of Northeast) of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to abandon the outfit's demand for a separate State, Sangma said that though there was no change of stand on the statehood demand, the outfit was open to talks for the autonomous status to Garo hills. "The joint secretary, home, in charge of Northeast, told us that the Centre does not want to divide the Northeast further," he adds. To some extent, the ANVC agreed to this, but the militant group would negotiate with the Centre on what arrangement it would provide to the Garo hills for the outfit to give up its demand for a separate Garo State, he mentioned.
September 10: The Centre is reported to have rejected a demand for a separate Garo State by the ANVC, when the Joint Secretary (in-charge of Northeast) of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Naveen Verma, held a series of meetings with senior State Government officials and discussed a rehabilitation package for the ANVC. Verma is understood to have made it clear that if the ANVC wants a rehabilitation package, it has to leave aside its demand for Garoland, a separate State comprising three Districts of Garo Hills region in Meghalaya. The Centre has asked the group to furnish a fresh list of demands concerning rehabilitation of its cadres. The Centre has also asked the State Government to monitor whether the insurgent group was adhering to the cease-fire ground rules.

2008

December 3: Shillong Times quoting police source reports that the ANVC is carrying out an extortion drive with support from the NSCN-IM in the coal belt areas of West Khasi Hills and East Garo Hills. According to police sources, the activities of ANVC and NSCN-IM are at their peak during the winter season as this is the period when a large quantity of coal is exported to Bangladesh resulting in a huge business transaction. "The ANVC and NSCN (IM) equally share the extorted amount," police sources state.
November 23: Meghalaya Police said that the newly formed militant outfits, the Atong Liberation Army (ALA) in South Garo Hills, and Achik National Security Defence (ANSD) in West Khasi Hills, are being used by the NSCN-IM and ANVC for carrying out an extortion drive in coal belt areas. Police sources said the ALA and ANSD were extorting money from coal-laden trucks and coal exporters in West Khasi Hills and South Garo Hills. "We have already started our operations to destroy these two militant outfits before they could manage to make their presence felt in the State," sources said.
October 17: Police recover explosives, a camera, CDs and incriminating documents, including demand notes, belonging to ANVC from a rented house at Chinengree village near Shahlang in the West Khasi Hills district. The documents recovered from the house indicate that money was extorted by the outfit from various parts of the district. The ANVC cadres, however, manage to escape from the incident site.
July 23 The Union Government extends the cease-fire with the ANVC for an indefinite period for the first time, unlike the earlier periodical review of the cease-fire with the militant group.
May 29: Surrendered ANVC cadres asked the Meghalaya Government to provide them with recruitment in 5th India Reserve Battalion and monetary assistance. They also alleged that the former State Government did not have the commitment to rehabilitate all surrendered insurgents. They say that the previous D.D. Lapang-led Government had given "more importance" to the Shillong-based former cadre of the HNLC than those from the Garo Hills. The former ANVC cadres have sought Government jobs for at least 25 of them and financial assistance for the others to start their own entrepreneurship.
May 28: The LAEF's new 'commander-in-chief' Daria Sangma, while speaking to the media over phone, reconfirms the Meghalaya Police’s claim that the LAEF has forged ties with the Assam-based Black Widow (BW) outfit. He said that it was in the interest of consolidating LAEF to pursue its goal of a ‘separate Garo state’. The report added that a group of five LAEF cadres recently returned from arms training organised by the BW in Assam. Daria also said the Garo outfit had recently held a general council meeting in the West Khasi Hills in which he was appointed the new ‘army chief’ in the presence of LAEF ‘chairman’ Darong T. Marak who, according to police, had been killed by his own colleagues long ago. The LAEF general council meeting is said to have also appointed one Khanam D. Shira as ‘general secretary’ of the outfit, besides a former ANVC cadre Nikseng Sangma holding an important portfolio within the group. Nikseng had deserted the ANVC and joined with former ANVC 'eastern area commander' Sohan D. Shira to help the LAEF during the early days of its formation. Following the killing of the then ‘chairman’ Peter Marak in the hands of police and subsequent surrender of Sohan before the government, Nikseng reportedly fled into the LAEF stronghold of West Khasi Hills. Daria also says tells the media that the general council meeting had taken up several resolutions one of which was to turn ‘pro-active’ in its operations against certain organisations aligning with the government to wipe out the outfit.
April 7: One ANVC militant, Amjad A. Sangma, is arrested by the Meghalaya Police during a search operation at Williamnagar in the East Garo Hills district. One 9-mm pistol was recovered from his possession.
February 29: The Congress party candidate Mukul Sangma complained to the Returning Officer that the ANVC and police are aiding the National Congress Party candidates from Ampati constituency in the Garo Hills. Mukul said that ANVC cadres led by Ronald Sangma threatened people and Amapati police station officer in-charge A.M. Sangma had taken no cognizance of the offence. He mentioned that his supporters were also assaulted.
February 28: The ANVC said that it will remain neutral in the Legislative Assembly elections scheduled to be held on March 3, 2008. In a letter signed by 'chairman' Dilash Marak alias S. M. Marak, the outfit stated: "Rumours will always be there and the ANVC respect and recognise the people's 'Right' to choose their own representatives and shall remain neutral as far as the 2008 assembly elections are concerned."
January 20: One ANVC cadre, Dorang G. Momin, is arrested by the Meghalaya police personnel when they neutralise a hideout at Tarajak village in the West Khasi Hills district. However, 10 militants, including two persons belonging to the Naga community, managed to escape from the incident site. An AK-47 rifle and an M-16 rifle, other arms and ammunition are recovered from the hideout.

2007

December 12: The Joint Monitoring Committee meeting of the representatives of the ANVC, Meghalaya Government and Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was held in the national capital New Delhi. The meeting expressed concern over the reported extortion being carried out by the outfit and stressed the need to strictly adhere to ground rules of the cease-fire agreement signed on July 23, 2004.
November 22: Shillong Times reports that the ‘organising secretary’ of the ANVC, identified as Bernard N. Marak alias Torik Jangnang, is released. On August 17, he was arrested for his involvement in extortion at Tura market in the West Garo Hills district, and was later lodged in the Jowai jail under the Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act for almost three months.
September 9: An unidentified civilian is shot dead by suspected militants at Chachatgre in the East Garo Hills district. He was reportedly working as a domestic help of Sohan D. Shira, a surrendered ANVC leader.
September 6: One Achik National Liberation Front Army militant, Nabat Marak, is shot dead by suspected ANVC militants at Chidimit village near Songsak in the East Garo Hills district. Meghalaya Police stated that ANVC militants after killing Marak buried his body at the village. He reportedly deserted the ANVC in 2005 and later joined the Achik National Liberation Front Army outfit.
August 25: A self-styled 'area commander' of the ANVC, identified as Sohan D. Shira, surrenders in an unspecified place in Meghalaya.
August 17: The organising secretary of the ANVC, Bernard Marak, is arrested from Tura in the West Garo Hills district on charges of extortion. Police said several complaints had been lodged against Marak, also known as Torik Jangang, by the truckers. Three of his associates arrested on August 16 had also confessed to their involvement in the racket. They had been collecting INR 20 each from each truck plying in Tura posing themselves as members of the truckers' association. Marak was also manning the liaison office of the militant group at Tura.
May 23: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal extended the ban on the ANVC and HNLC for two more years due to their continued anti-national and anti-social activities. The new order will remain in force till May 15, 2009.
April 14: The two-day meeting of the Tribunal to look into the proscription on the HNLC and ANVC concluded. Official sources said that there was no representation from the HNLC and only the ANVC contested the case aiming at lifting the proscription.
January 17: An ANVC cadre, Onkang Sangma, who had deserted the camp at Chokpot in the South Garo Hills district in 2006, surrenders at Williamnagar in the East Garo Hills district.

2006

November 9: The Union Government extends the proscription on ANVC.
October 25: The ANVC fails to respond to the appeal made by Meghalya Chief Minister, J. D. Rymbai, and Home Minister, R. G. Lyngdoh, to lay down arms, before the State Government could convince the Union Government to lift the ban imposed on the outfit, indicates report.
September 28: The ANVC decides to discuss with the Meghalaya Government the conditions of disarmament for lifting the ban on the outfit. "We will have to discuss the matter before taking any decision in this regard," said ‘publicity secretary’ Arist Sangma.
September 11: The newly formed Garo outfit, Achik National Liberation Front Army (ANLFA), allegedly accuse the Meghalaya Government of being soft on the ANVC, which is currently under a cease-fire with the Union and State Governments. The ANLFA alleges that the State Government is turning a blind eye to the ‘atrocities’ committed by the ANVC cadres in Garo Hills.
August 31: The self-styled ‘chairman’ of the ANVC, Dilash Marak, figures in the list of wanted militants, residing in Bangladesh, handed over by the Border Security Force (BSF) to the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) during their meeting in Shillong.
August 31: Two political parties, the Hill State People's Democratic Party from Khasi Hills and Garo National Council from Garo Hills, at a joint statement demand the creation of separate provinces for the two major tribes of the State. Both the parties are opposed to the idea of ‘Greater Garoland’ demanded by the ANVC. However, the ANVC criticizes the joint proclamation of the two parties as a "political propaganda".
August 28: The ANVC states that it has discussed the issue of Garo Hills with the Union Government in New Delhi in July 2006. The ‘publicity secretary’ of the outfit, Arist Sangma, said, "We submitted our memorandum and said separate Garoland was our demand."
August 8: Meghalaya Government starts the Disaster Awareness and Search & Rescue Traning programme for ANVC cadres at Tura in the West Garo Hills district.
July 11:The cease-fire agreement between the Government and ANVC is extended by one more year. An agreement to this effect is reached during the Joint Monitoring Group held in New Delhi on an unspecified day. The ANVC entered into a tripartite cease-fire agreement on July 23, 2004.
May 30: Meghalaya Home Minister H. Donkupar R Lyngdoh, while responding negatively on the request of the ANVC to the Union Government to lift the ban imposed on it, says, "Let people be satisfied with their non-violence and peaceful existence." "No doubt, the illegal activities of the ANVC has reduced to a great extent; but until people are satisfied, the ban should continue," adds the Home Minister.
May 28: The ANVC asks the Union Government to withdraw its ban on the outfit to facilitate peace talks.
May 10: The ANVC, while criticizing other Garo outfits such as the ANLF and United UANF, terms them as "group of extortionists and dacoits who have no ideology or principle." "Both UANF and ANLF are only after money and they are not fighting for the cause of the people of Garo Hills," said ANVC 'publicity secretary' Arist Sengsrang Sangma. "We are fighting for a separate state and our demand is very much within the framework of the Indian constitution while the so called UANF has claimed that the organisation is fighting for independence which is not at all acceptable both to the government of India and the Garos as well," he added.
May 1: Chief Minister D. D. Lapang, while expressing the State Government’s willingness to hold talks with the militant outfits, says, "But we have no say on the issues, which are totally depended on the initiative of the Union Home Ministry." He further adds, "We have to patiently wait and see things to happen because whatever steps that have been followed with the ANVC, the same thing will be done with HNLC."
April 7: An ANVC cadre is killed by three of his colleagues at Tura in the West Garo Hills district.
April 5: The JMG meeting held at the BSF premises in Guwahati decides to conduct a joint survey for setting up a designated camp for the ANVC cadres in the South Garo Hills of Meghalaya by the end of April 2006. The existing camp at Jetra in the Ri Bhoi district will be dismantled following complaints from paramilitary forces.
March 27: Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang, while responding to the issue of negotiations with militant outfits, informs the Legislative Assembly that a "Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) has been formed to monitor the cease-fire with the ANVC. The next JMG meeting will be held on April 5 in Guwahati, said, while adding that, “We are thinking of adopting similar pattern as the first step to initiate dialogue with HNLC.”
March 24: The ANVC calls for the formation of a separate state known as the 'Garoland State' for the Garos in Meghalaya. The 'publicity secretary' of the outfit, Arist Sengsrang Sangma, says that it is high time for all Garos to come under one umbrella and demand a separate state.

2005

December 14: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, S. Reghupathy, while speaking in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament), says that cease fire and suspension of operations is on with ANVC along with certain other militant outfits of the North East.
November 16: Police kills Tiko Areng, a militant belonging to the ANLF, a splinter faction of the ANVC at Dongranggre near Shallang in the West Khasi Hills district. One 9mm pistol and a grenade are recovered from the incident site.
November 9: ANVC 'publicity secretary', Arist Sengsrang Sangma, says, "We have told the cadres that those who are willing to leave can do so without deserting or running away from the camps." Commenting on reports that some former ANVC cadres have formed a new outfit, the ANLF, he says, "We will try to neutralise ANLF with the police, otherwise there will be law and order problem in Garo Hills." He further says that the relation between the police and the ANVC has improved considerably over the past few months.
November 6: Two ANVC cadres, M. Marak and N. Momin, who have escaped from the Chokpot cease-fire camp, are killed by a joint team of Meghalaya Police and the army near Thapha in the East Garo Hills district. Three Chinese-made hand grenades and three rounds of AK-47 ammunition, besides documents such as extortion notes and money receipts are recovered from the incident site.
November 4: Meghalaya Police kills two hardcore ANVC cadres, Rarik Sangma and Rabi Marak, and arrests two others at Bangsiminol under Mendipather police station in the Garo Hills district. Police sources informed that the slain militants are part of a group of nine ANVC cadres who have deserted the outfit's camp at Samanda in East Garo Hills and Chokpot in South Garo Hills and have made attempts to form a new outfit, the AN LF. Police also recover an AK-56 rifle with 20 rounds of ammunition, three hand grenades and an SLR with 17 rounds of live ammunition from the incident site.
September 4: ANVC threatens to call off the cease-fire agreement with the State Government protesting against the latter's constant allegation of truce violation by the outfit. The outfit's 'Publicity Secretary' Arist Sangma said, "We express concern over the state government's often repeated statement that the ANVC is engaged in extortions… If the government continues with its wild allegations, we will be forced to go back to the jungle."
July 18: The cease-fire between ANVC and the Union Government is extended for a year with effect from July 23, 2005. The decision is taken following a meeting between the ANVC leaders and MHA officials at Patgaon in the Guwahati city of Assam. The ANVC is asked to submit names of its cadres taking shelter in the two designated camps in East and South Garo Hills to the Union Government and also keep its arms and ammunition in safe custody.
July 6: Meghalaya Government sends a note to the Union Government detailing the acts of cease-fire violation by the ANVC. Chief Secretary P. J. Bazeley said that the State Government would agree to extend the cease-fire agreement beyond July 23 provided the truce ground rules are framed and strictly adhered to. He says, "We have told the Centre that we will not be a party to the cease-fire with the ANVC if there are no proper ground rules."
May 11: Two ANVC cadres, Ganesh Sangma and Nicholas Sangma, and one of their associates are arrested from Borsora in the West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.
April 19: Meghalaya Chief Minister, D D Lapang, while addressing a press conference in Shillong, said the ANVC is violating the cease-fire agreement.
April 14: Meghalaya Home Minister, Mukul Sangma, says that failure to settle issues relating to the cease-fire ground rules have led to the delay in starting the peace process with the proscribed ANVC.
March 30: A tribunal makes recommendations for the extension of the proscription on the HNLC and ANVC for another year.
March 8: Meghalaya Home Minister, Mukul Sangma, says that the State Government will begin peace talks with the ANVC only after the outfit adheres to the principles of the cease-fire.
January 17: The ceasefire agreement between the Government and the ANVC is extended by six months. The agreement is reached during the JMG meeting held at Tura in the West Garo Hills district. The duration of the present ceasefire is set to expire on January 23.

2004

December 23: As a first step towards fulfilling the cease-fire ground rules, the ANVC submits a list of 100 of its cadres to the State Government. Informing this in Shillong, the State Home Minister, H.D.R. Lyngdoh, says that these cadres will be accommodated in the two designated camps. However, the outfit is yet to submit the list of arms and ammunition, adds Lyngdoh.
December 22: Union Government extends the ban on two militant outfits of Meghalaya, the ANVC and HNLC. In an official notification in Shillong, the MHA cites the reasons for extension stating that although the ANVC agrees to abjure violence and expresses willingness for talks within the framework of Constitution, it continues "collection of funds and extortion, acquisition of sophisticated weapons and recruitment of new cadre."
December 10: Meghalaya Government asks the ANVC chairman Dilash Marak and 'commander-in-chief' Jerome Momin to confine themselves to the Garo Hills area.
December 9: The JMG meeting between the banned ANVC and the representatives of the MHA and the Meghalaya Government takes place in New Delhi to discuss the 'ground rules'. Following the second round of the tripartite talks of JMG, the ANVC agrees to submit the full list of its cadres to the State Government by December 20 to facilitate the implementation of cease-fire ground rules. The cadres will stay in two designated camps in the Garo Hills region.
July 23: ANVC signs a tripartite agreement with the Union and Meghalaya Governments for immediate suspension of hostilities. The agreement is signed by the Secretary, Border Management in the MHA, A.K.Rastogi, Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, P.J. Bazely, and representatives of the ANVC led by its 'General Secretary' Wanding K Marak.
July 2: The abducted Indian Forest Service official, D Sathyen, is released unharmed in the South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya after about a fortnight amidst claims by the State Government that no ransom was paid to the abductors.
June 24: ANVC denies any links to the abduction of D. Sathiyan, Indian Forest Service officer posted at the Balpakram National Park. The outfit's 'publicity secretary', Arist Sengsrang Sangma, says that the outfit does not have any connection with the incident.
June 22: ANVC demands Rupees 15 lakh as ransom for the release of abducted D. Satyan.
June 18: Suspected ANVC terrorists abduct Forest Officer, D. Satyan, from his house at Baghmara in South Garo Hills district.
June 1: Suspected ANVC terrorists shot dead a trader from Tura in Meghalaya for failing to pay extortion money demanded by them.
June 1: Suspected ANVC terrorists kill a trader from Tura in the West Garo Hill district.

May 10: Suspected ANVC cadres kill a schoolteacher at Kukurmara in the Kamrup district of Assam.

May 6: Meghalaya Police arrests an ANVC terrorist, involved in truck burning incidents at Borsora on April 28, from Nonghyllam in the West Khasi Hills district.
March 16: One ANVC terrorist is killed in an encounter with the security forces at Kajinagar in the West Garo Hills district.

February 20: Suspected ANVC cadres release Borsora Land Custom Station Superintendent, L.H. Faihrem, from captivity at Tila Basti in the East Khasi Hills district. He was abducted on October 9, 2003.

January 19: One police personnel is killed and four others are injured when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), allegedly planted by ANVC terrorists went off at Tapadarengchi in the East Garo Hills district.

February 13: Four ANVC terrorists are killed by SFs in an encounter near Phulbari in the West Garo Hills district.

February 10: Meghalaya Police arrests an ANVC terrorist, identified as Jubi R Marak, from an unspecified location in the State.

February 6: Meghalaya Chief Minister, D D Lapang, accuses former Lok Sabha Speaker and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader P A Sangma of conniving with the proscribed ANVC to remain in State politics.

January 7: Two ANVC ‘sympathizers’ are arrested for distributing extortion notes bearing the signature of R Marak of the ANVC ‘finance wing’ at Mendipathar in the East Garo Hills district.

2003

December 15: A woman ANVC cadre, identified as Tresy Sangma, wife of the Mendipather 'area commander' of the outfit, is arrested near Mendipather in the East Garo Hills district.

November 16: Meghalaya Police arrest a self-styled corporal of the ANVC, identified as Havel Sangma, from Bologgitok village in the West Garo Hills district and recover a Japanese wireless hand-set and a tape recorder from his possession.

November 10: Suspected ANVC terrorists kill three civilians at Rajapal in the East Garo Hills district.

October 28: ANVC 'commander-in-chief' Jerome Momin indicates that the outfit "would continue its struggle for a greater Garoland and not give in to any moves initiated by the government towards a reconciliation."

October 1: Two Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) terrorists surrender before the police in Shillong, and at Baghmara in South Garo Hills respectively.

September 30: ANVC decides not to participate in the Meghalaya Government backed peace talks with the Garo Baptist Convention (GPC) after the September 26 incident.

September 26: Security force personnel kill eight ANVC terrorists in two separate encounters in the West Garo Hills district and recover one AK-56 rifle with twelve rounds of live ammunition, one Pakistan-made.32 pistol with seven rounds of ammunition, two Chinese hand grenades and some incriminating documents from the encounter site.

September 24: Meghalaya Chief Minister Lapang offers truce to the ANVC and HNLC.

September 10: ANVC terrorists in Meghalaya release abducted Bajengdoba SBI Branch Manager after nine days of captivity.

August 7: An ANVC sympathizer alleged to be involved in supplying arms to the outfit is killed during an encounter at Rewak in the South Garo Hills district.

July 16: Two ANVC terrorists, including a ‘commander’, are killed during an encounter at Bikonggre village in the West Garo Hills district while three others escape from the incident site.

June 27: Meghalaya Police arrests former State Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Adolf Lu Hitler Marak at Laban in Shillong for his alleged links with the ANVC.

June 24: ANVC terrorists ambush a police patrol party near Borsora in the West Khasi Hills district killing two police personnel and injuring three others.

June 19: Two women ANVC cadres surrender before the State Home Minister R G Lyngdoh at Shillong.

May 20: At least five ANVC terrorists are arrested from Ampati in the West Garo Hills district.

May 15: Four ANVC terrorists are arrested from a hideout at Ampati in the West Garo Hills district.
May 4: Meghalaya Police unearths an ANVC ‘finance cell’ at Asimggre village in West Garo Hills district and seizes incriminating documents indicating to an extortion racket being run by the outfit in the area.
May 01: Suspected ANVC cadres abduct two persons from Balachand, West Garo Hills district.

April 29: Three ANVC terrorists, including an ‘area commander’, surrender before the State police at Sonapahar village in West Khasi Hills district with two AK-56 rifles, two wireless sets, four grenades and 216 rounds of AK-47 ammunition.

April 28: ANVC ‘area command headquarters’ in the Garo hills area is reportedly dissolved and brought under the single command of ‘commander-in-chief’ Jerome Momin.

April 26: Suspected ANVC terrorists release two abducted Meghalaya Government officials after 26 days of captivity near Willamnagar, East Garo Hills district.
ANVC abducts a State Government official from Dadenggri in West Garo Hills district.

April 23: Reports indicate that ‘preliminary talks’ were held between the Union Government and the ANVC on an unspecified date in Bangkok, Thailand.

April 15: Suspected ANVC terrorists abduct a local businessman from Jhanjhani market, Mancachar police station-limits, in Assam's Dhubri district.

April 13: ANVC releases three of the five Assam-based businessmen abducted on April 7, near Phulbari in West Garo Hills district.

April 7: Meghalaya police arrest two ANVC terrorists at Weiloi village, East Khasi Hills district, from the vehicle of a former Legislator Adolf L. Hitler Marak.

April 2: Four suspected ANVC terrorists, including a woman cadre, abduct a businessman at Ampati, West Garo Hills district.

March 31: The Assam-based NDFB releases Customs officer Dipak Mahanta near Williamnagar in South Garo Hills district. Terrorists had abducted him on February 28, 2003.

March 24: NDFB sets free the four remaining coal exporters, following the escape of two other exporters from its unidentified hideout in Meghalaya. ANVC and NDFB terrorists abducted the six coal exporters and a customs official Dipak Mahanta from Gasupara in South Garo Hills district on February 28.

March 6: ANVC terrorists ambush a vehicle of the Border Road Organisation killing three persons on the spot in the East Garo Hills district. They also loot Rupees seven million and two self-loading rifles before escaping.

A group of six ANVC terrorists abduct two teachers of a local school at Katuligaon near Ampati in the West Garo Hills district.

February 28: ANVC and NDFB terrorists abduct six coal exporters and a customs official from Customs station at Ghasuapara in South Garo Hills district.

February 26: Security forces rescue four abducted persons, including the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau Assistant Director Deben Singh Rana at Damalgiri, Garobada police post limits in Tura, West Garo Hills district.

February 13: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, I D Swami, says peace initiative with ANVC is in progress.

ANVC terrorists abduct a Government official at Bajengdoba in East Garo Hills district.

February 2: ANVC terrorists kill Santhosh Hajong, a retired Meghalaya Police Battalion personnel at Ampati, West Garo Hills district.

January 22: ANVC terrorists abduct a Government official from his residence at Bajendoba, East Garo Hills district.

January 14: Suspected ANVC terrorists kill three persons in Songsak, near Williamnagar, East Garo Hills district, for allegedly using the outfit’s name to extort money from local residents.

January 3: The Union Home Ministry extends ban under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967 on the ANVC and the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) in Meghalaya.

2002

December 31: ANVC demands Rs two million as ransom for medical practitioner P. Bezbaruah’s release.

December 19: ANVC terrorists abduct medical practitioner P. Bezbaruah in Williamnagar, East Garo Hills district.

December 12: A businessman abducted from Nidhanpur, Assam, flees from an ANVC hideout despite being hit by bullet in the leg.
December 9: Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) establishes contact with ANVC and confirms the possibility peace talks in the future, most likely in Delhi in the year 2003.
December 1: Terrorist-attack on a passenger bus in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, injures two passengers. The ANVC's hand is suspected in the attack.
November 12: ANVC relates the 1996-Wakabua raid to the rise of terrorism in Garo Hills. At the same time, the outfit's southern command in-charge and publicity-wing head Sohan D Shira says the September 9, 2002-killings of Deputy Superintendent of Police Paichon Sangma and five others, near Chokpot, was in retaliation to the Wakabua camp raid.
October 05: Meghalaya Chief Minister F A Khonglam discloses he is in possession of certain evidence against three Ministers from the Garo Hills region having nexus with the proscribed ANVC terrorist outfit. He says they all belong to the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
September 24: An ANVC terrorist is killed and another arrested by security forces (SF) in Dobu, East Garo hills district, following a prolonged gun-battle between group of five terrorists and a joint team of Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. Three more terrorists escape. A 9mm carbine, 11 rounds of ammunition and a US-made carbine are recovered from the clash-site.
September 9: Six Meghalaya police personnel, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), are killed in an ambush laid by ANVC terrorists at Chocpot, in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya.
July 1: An ANVC terrorist is killed in an encounter with police near Dudhnoi in Assam. Five ANVC terrorists surrender at the Mendipather police station in the presence of Church leaders, in East Garo Hills.
June 30: Meghalaya Forest Minister Monindra Rava's son, Devajyoti Rava, and four others are killed by unidentified, armed-men at a place between Belguri and Abhiram Para near Tikrikilla. Police suspect the ANVC's hand in the attack.
June 11: Two ANVC terrorists are killed in an encounter at Amarsang village, near Kulung, under Borsora police station limits, West Khasi Hills district. Two AK-47 rifles, a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), a Chinese rifle, two 12-bore guns and a large quantity of ammunition are recovered from the site of the encounter.
ANVC terrorists injured in an encounter in South Garo Hills. Police recovered Rs 1,54,000 in cash from the clash-site.
May 12: Three Nepalese settlers are, and seven more injured in an attack by the ANVC terrorist outfit at the Tinali settlement near Phulbari in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.
April 1: ANVC terrorist killed in encounter near Rangagre village under Tura police station limits.

March 14: Suspected ANVC terrorists kill eight persons, including four policemen in West Garo Hills.

March 1: ANVC terrorists abduct a leading businessman and a manager of a construction company from Chibinang, West Garo Hills.

February 16: An ANVC terrorist attempting to cross over to Bangladesh killed in an encounter by security forces at Chadogre village in West Garo Hills.

January 31: ANVC terrorist and two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel killed in an encounter at Phanda in South Garo Hills district.

January 22: ANVC conducts a joint attack with National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) terrorists on a security forces camp using rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) at Tikrikilla in South Garo Hills.

2001

December 26: ANVC terrorist escapes from the Williamnagar district Jail, East Garo Hills district.

November 25: ANVC terrorist arrested from a dwelling at Sonatala near Ranikota

November 22: ANVC terrorist surrenders to the South Garo Hills District police.

November 20: ANVC terrorists abduct a Sub-Divisional Officer from Waribok, near Rongrang, in West Garo Hills.

October 20: Three ANVC terrorists arrested from Doldegre area in West Garo Hills district by a joint team of Meghalaya police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

October 9: Two ANVC cadres injured in an encounter on the outskirts of Williamnagar.

1999

August: Two policemen killed when suspected ANVC terrorists blow up two jeeps at Aniaga village in the East Garo hills.

1998

October: Five security force personnel killed and over Rs. 100,000 looted during an attack in East Garo hills.

February: Two police personnel killed and Rs. 800,000 looted in an ambush laid by ANVC terrorists, the East Garo Hills.

Incidents and Statements involving Achik National Volunteer Council: 2013

Date

Place

Incident

Nature of incident

January 1

Shillong in Meghalaya

CM, Mukul Sangma, announced that a "historic settlement" is on the anvil for resolving the issues raised by the ANVC.

Statement

January 2
Shillong in Meghalaya

State Government has ruled out the formation of the GAC as demanded by the ANVC, currently under ceasefire, rather it has proposed strengthening of the GHADC with direct funding and providing more manpower.

Breakaway faction of the ANVC-B said that it would participate in the "historic settlement" if it was beneficial to all three existing autonomous District councils of the State and the common people.
Statement

January 5
Shillong in Meghalaya

The Union and State Government signed a draft agreement with both ANVC and ANVC -B for expansion of powers of the GHADC.

Statement

January 6
Shillong in Meghalaya

ANVC leader, Arist Sangma said that he was ready to negotiate with the GNLA if the militant group is willing to be part of the peace pact. "Being part of the mother organization, we want to appeal to the GNLA so that they can take part in the peace process as this is a golden opportunity and we are ready to facilitate the talks," said Sangma, 'publicity secretary 'of ANVC.

Statement

January 6
Shillong in Meghalaya

ANVC-B 'Chairman', Rimpu Marak has said that the militant outfit signed the peace pact to bring over all development to the people of Garo Hills. "The ANVC (B) joined the settlement process at the final stage to ensure peace and bring about changes in terms of development, growth and progress to the deprived areas, especially the Garo dominated areas," Marak said.
Statement

January 7 Shillong in Meghalaya
ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu Marak said that the KHADC and JHADC will benefit from the ANVC draft tripartite peace pact signed on January 5. Marak further said that the outfit was willing to meet the leaders of other councils and social leaders of Khasi and Jaintia Hills to discuss the matters concerning the role of traditional heads and chiefs in the growth of the State.
Statement

January 8 Shillong in Meghalaya
The State cabinet approved the text of the draft settlement agreement to be signed with the ANVC militants. A tripartite meeting between the Central, State Government and the ANVC resulted in signing of a draft agreement on January 5. The State Cabinet has also constituted a committee, which will comprise State Government and District Council representatives, MHA officials, and representatives from the ANVC to go into the finer points of the proposed agreement.
Statement

January 16 Shillong in Meghalaya
The ANVC-B has said that the State Government is losing revenue worth billion of rupees from coal trade due to the nexus between the traders and corrupt government officials. According to the outfit, the coal traders do not pay taxes to the District Council and export far greater volume of coal than what they show on record.
Statement

January 24
Shillong in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya

ANVC-B said it would not support any political party during the elections. In a statement, the ANVC leader, Rimpu N.Marak said that 2013 election will entirely depend on people's decision. "People should choose their representative wisely for next five years, as it is our votes that will decide leaders of tomorrow. I appeal to the public to discourage corrupt means of campaigning and vote for visionary and responsible candidates who are vocal, focused and committed to the people's cause", Marak added.
Statement

January 24
Shillong in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya

NPP has alleged that the draft peace agreement signed by the Central and State Government with the militant outfit ANVC was an 'election oriented' stunt.
Statement

January 31
Shillong in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya

The first batch of 10 companies of Central paramilitary forces has been dispatched to Garo Hills on January 31 for election duty. The State had sought a total of 76 companies of paramilitary forces to maintain law and order during the polls which the Central Government has agreed to provide. A police official said the 10 companies of Central paramilitary personnel arrived in the State on January 30. Due to a spurt in militant activities unleashed by the GNLA in Garo Hills, the region has become more vulnerable as compared to other districts of the State. Also, though the ANVC-B and its parent body, the ANVC, signed the draft peace agreement with the State and the Union Governments there has been no reduction in insurgent activities in the region.
Non-Violent

February 2
East Garo Hills District of Meghalaya

GNLA militants stormed Williamnagar District jail where they shot dead the assistant jailor and injured a warder in East Garo Hills District. "GNLA cadres entered Williamnagar district jail and shot dead assistant jailor Neil Warjri. The warder Sharai Sing Thabah was seriously injured in the jail compound near the gate," East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Vijay Kumar Mantri said from New Delhi.
Violent

February 3
West Garo hills in Meghalaya

The injured warder of Williamnagar District jail (East Garo Hills District), Sharai Sing Thabah, succumbed to his injuries. As reported earlier, suspected GNLA militants attacked the Williamnagar District killing assistant jailor, Neil Warjri on February 2.
Violent

February 3
East Garo Hills District of Meghalaya

East Garo Hills District administration stated that the incident was carried out by Breakaway faction of the ANVC-B and not from the GNLA as thought of earlier. East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Vijay Kumar Mantri said it has been confirmed that the cadres of the ANVC-B were responsible for the attack.
Statement

February 3
East Khasi hills District of Meghalaya

DGP Kulbir Krishan said that an investigation has been started and that they cannot confirm whether the attack was carried out by ANVC-B or GNLA.
Statement

February 4
East Garo hills District of Meghalaya

The East Garo Hills District Magistrate has cancelled the bail granted to four ANVC-B militants including Singbirth N Marak alias Norok alias Tengton for their alleged involvement in the gunning down two staff of Willimnagar jail in the February 2 incident. Police had also identified ANVC-B 'militant commander', Singbirth N. Marak alias Norok as the person who had led the attack. Norok was given bail on January 11 and 22 after he was arrested in connection with the attack on Meghalaya PCC working president Deborah C. Marak last year.
Statement

February 4
NS

ANVC-B denied any hand in the Willimnagar District jail attack and said its name has been dragged in by some "vested interests". "We condemn the Willimnagar incident and we deny having a hand in the attack. The ANVC -B is being dragged in because of some vested interests". Willimnagar is Sohan D Shira's [Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) 'Commander-in-chief'] stronghold and our influence in that area is not much. Accusing ANVC (B) seems more like a cover-up statement to target our cadres and to derail the peaceful initiative," the outfit said in a statement.
Statement

February 5
NS

ANVC-B leader, Rimpu Marak said that the cancellation of bails of ANVC-B cadres seems to be politically motivated to make the cadres into forced fugitives. As reported earlier, The East Garo Hills District magistrate had cancelled the bail granted to four ANVC-B cadres including Singbirth N Marak alias Norok/Tengton for their alleged involvement in the gunning down two staff of Willimnagar jail even though outfit has denied its hand in the February 2 incident.
Statement

February 10
NS

GNLA has blamed former State DGP-Prisons, Kulbir Krishan for the death of Assistant Jailer Neil Warjri and Warder Sarai Sing Thabah at the hands of ANVC-B militants during the attack on Williamnagar jail on February 2. GNLA's 'political affairs secretary', Bikdot Nikjang Marak said that GNLA is not connected to the cold blooded murder of the two jail staff and we regret condemnation of some sections of society against us. A jail staff is not a Policeman and GNLA has no reason to target unarmed and innocent employees. Those who condemn us should first unearth the truth before pointing their finger at us."
Statement

February 13 New Delhi
Meghalaya Governor, RS Mooshahary while praising the State Government for the "commendable" job it has done in containing the activities of militant groups said law and order situation in the State is under control. Speaking at the two-day conference of Governors, Mooshahary said the State was fully geared up for the February 23 elections. "The activities of HNLC are on decline in Khasi-Jainita Hills," the Governor said adding the peace agreement with the Garo militant outfit ANVC would be signed shortly. "However, the increased activities of the GNLA and its growing influence in Garo Hills and parts of West Khasi Hills is a matter of concern," he added.
Statement

February 15 East Garo Hills District of Meghalaya
A group of militants fired in the air at Williamnagar market in East Garo Hills District creating panic among the traders in the area. Police suspect the role of either ANVC-B or GNLA behind the Williamnagar market firing incident. The militants escaped probably crossing the Simsang River.
Violent

February 21 NS
The ANVC-B has asked the youths of the state to vote for change. In a statement, ANVC-B leader Rimpu Marak said, "It is the youth's vote that will decide the 2013 election."According to the militant outfit, old system of politics can be changed only by mass participation of the youth, adding that youths who opt for change, growth and development of their areas must practice their 'voting' rights and not waste them.
Statement

March 6
NS

Majority of the Members of the MDCs have opposed the move to strengthen the KHADC on the basis of the proposed peace settlement between the Government and the ANVC.

Moving a motion on the proposed peace agreement on the second day of the Budget Session, KHNAM MDC, Adelbert Nongrum said the Council should not accept the Government's move. He argued that if the strengthening of the KHADC has to take place then it should be on the basis of the needs and aspirations of the people of Khasi Hills.
Statement

March 7
South Garo Hills in Meghalaya

Chokpot Police in South Garo Hills arrested Somor D Sangma while he was collecting money from coal trucks in Jetra area. He had earlier escaped during an encounter with Police in February where one of the militants had been shot dead.
Non-violent

March 9
East Garo Hills District of Meghalaya

Three militants of ANVC-B were killed after an encounter between a team of Meghalaya Police and the rebels in Dobu Chitingbang village. The deceased are yet to be identified but from the documents and arms recovered from the encounter site, it was ascertained that they belonged to the ANVC (B) outfit, Police added.
Violent

March 10
NS

A day after the Police shot dead three cadres of ANVC-B for their involvement in extortion on March 9; the militant outfit denied the Police claim that they were extorting money. In a statement, ANVC-B leader Rimpu Marak said that foul play has begun as the election is over. Marak stated that the outfit had signed the draft agreement to bring peace to the people, but the moment elected politicians have taken over, the killings have started again.
Statement

March 11 Shillong in East Khasi hills District
The ANVC-B has demanded an inquiry into the recent killing of three of its cadres by Police for allegedly running an extortion racket.

In a statement issued , ANVC-B said, "There should be an inquiry to this killing as the slain cadres were not caught in an act but were shot while they were cooking meal in a village.
Statement

March 12 Shillong
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into recent alleged killing of three cadres of the ANVC-B by the Police. The ANVC-B leaders and the villagers had cited foul play in the operations of the Police against the militants and termed the killings as 'fake encounter'. An official said that WCR Marak, the Extra Assistant Commissioner of Rongjeng (East Garo Hills District), will probe the killing of the ANVC-B cadres. The magisterial inquiry was ordered on March 12.
Statement

March 18 Shillong in West Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya
GNC legislator, Clifford Marak questioned the State Governor's address on law and order situation while citing a few instances which contradicted the governor's statement that law and order situation in the State was well-under control. Stating that militant activities are happening on a daily basis in Garo Hills, Marak lambasted the Police department for its inefficiency in ensuring safety and protection to the residents of Garo Hills. Referring to the agreement signed between the Union Government, the State Government and the ANVC-B to grant more power including financial power to the GHADC, the GNC legislator said the same was never mentioned in the Governor's address while enquiring about the progress of the agreement made. Requesting Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma to immediately address the ANVC and GNLA crisis in Garo Hills, Marak said, "Much confrontation is going on with GNLA cadres. I am not supporting, but common people are suffering because of it."
Statement

March 19 Shillong in West Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said the ANVC would be taken into confidence on any alteration being made to the original agreed Text of Settlement by the Cabinet. He, however, maintained that the Government cannot make the agreed Text of Settlement public since it is still under active consideration of the Union Cabinet. He said that the basic objective of the negotiation is to empower the GHADC. Mukul also admitted that the agreed Text of Settlement would have an impact on the other two ADCs (Khasi Hills ADC and Jaintia Hills ADC) in the State. The ANVC had demanded upgrade of the existing membership of the GHADC from 30 to 40. It had proposed that 35 members would be directly elected while five, comprising two ANVC members, two nokmas (village head) and one woman, would be nominated.
Statement

March 19 South Garo Hills in Meghalaya
Police arrested two overground workers of ANVC-B identified as Lewin Marak and Pechong Marak - while they were collecting money from the merchants. An amount of INR 2,270 and a cell phone were recovered from their possession.
Non-violent

March 22 Shillong in West Khasi Hills of Meghalaya
The magisterial probe report into the attack on Williamnagar jail, that left two jail staff dead on February 2 by suspected ANVC-B cadres, was submitted to the Government.
Statement

March 24 Shillong in West Khasi Hills of Meghalaya
The hurriedly done draft peace pact with the ANVC-B just prior to the Assembly elections, without asking the cadres to surrender their weapons in time, has resulted in extortion and formation of splinter groups. An official source said that the defect of the draft agreement lies in the fact that no deadline was given to the ANVC-B leaders to deposit their arms with the Police or keep them in joint custody as was done in the case of its parent group, ANVC. There are reports that the ANVC-B 'commander' Singbirth N Marak alias Norok, who was involved in the killing of the jail staff along with a few other cadres, have already formed another outfit in Garo Hills, shattering the peace pact.
Statement

March 27
Shillong in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya

The ANVC-B said that the outfit is waiting for the State Government to initiate the official procedure to work out the formalities for the ceasefire as was done in 2004 with its parent outfit, ANVC. In a statement issued in Shillong, ANVC-B leader Rimpu Marak said that after the draft agreement, no official communication was made to the outfit by the State Government. "We have signed the draft for peace and we hope that the State Government is sincere about the settlement," he said. However, the outfit said that killing of its cadres at Dobu in East Garo Hills, earlier this month, have put doubt and scared the cadres forcing desertion. "I hope state knows the repurcations that will be followed by allowing this and giving free hand to certain officers to take law into their hands," outfit added.

The outfit also took a dig at the MLA Clifford Marak who had moved a call attention motion in the Assembly about the extortion being carried out by the ANVC-B militants in his constituency, Chokpot (South Garo Hills).
Statement

March 31
Shillong in East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya

The magisterial probe into the attack on Williamnagar jail, which resulted in the death of two jail staff, has failed to pinpoint which militant group was involved in the crime. Assistant Jailor Neil Warjri and Warder Sarai Sing Thabah were killed in the attack by a gang of militants on the night of February 2. The findings revealed that the primary target of the attackers was assistant jailor Warjri and not Thabah. Soon after the incident, the Police claimed that it was the handiwork of GNLA. Later, Police confirmed that the attack was carried out by ANVC-B led by its commander Senbirth Marak alias Norok.

However, the probe report, does not clearly point out which group was involved in the attack as it said that Police should investigate into the matter further.
Statement

April 1
East Garo Hills District in Meghalaya

Suspected ANVC-B militants numbering around 12 shot dead one Benjamin Marak of Rongbingre in Williamnagar, while the deceased was on a picnic along with his brother and friend at Mrik Wari along the Simsang River.
Violent

April 8
Shillong in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who met the Union Home Ministry officials in Delhi during his recent visit to discuss the peace pact with the ANVC, said that the matter is at an advanced stage. The Chief Minister said this in the Assembly in reply to Clifford Marak, president of Garo National Council, who raised the issue of the activities of ANVC in his Chokpot constituency through a call attention motion. According to the Chief Minister, the issue of arriving at a final settlement was discussed with the MHA during his visit to Delhi. He said that the draft peace pact will be brought to the Union Cabinet for discussion and subsequently the modalities to bring the militant groups to the mainstream will be worked out. To a question by Marak on whether the ANVC-B ‘commander in chief’ Mukost Marak is also under the peace pact, the Chief Minister said that he was also part of the peace process.
Statement

April 8
North Garo Hills of Meghalaya

Two motorcycle borne suspected militants abducted the teenage son of a grocery trader from the Assam side of Mendipather town adjoining North Garo Hills District reportedly to demand ransom from the father. The GNLA and the ANVC-B besides dacoit gangs and recently formed UALA are said to operate in the area, Police sources informed.
Violent

April 9
Shillong in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya

Home Minister Roshan Warjri said that the magisterial probe into the killing of three ANVC-B cadres on March 9 will be completed within 30 days.
Statement

April 10
South West Khasi Hills in Meghalaya

IG of Border Security Force [Meghalaya Frontier], Sudesh Kumar sought the cooperation of the border residents in tackling the activities of militants including GNLA, Breakaway faction of ANVC-B and also smugglers. IG-BSF, Sudesh Kumar, while addressing border residents at Gumaghat in South West Khasi Hills, said that smugglers from across the border bring in FICN which destabilize the economy and ultimately impact adversely the people.
Statement

April 11
Shillong in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya

The magisterial probe report into the incident of February 2 in which an assistant jailor and warder were killed could not establish which militant group was involved in the attack, but it only said that they were armed militants. Home (Jail) Minister Roshan Warjri said eight to ten armed miscreants were responsible for the incident on February 2. The Police first blamed GNLA for the attack and subsequently put the responsibility on ANVC-B saying the attack was led by Singbirth N Marak alias Norok but now the Government is claiming that they were ‘unidentified armed miscreants’.

The Meghalaya Assembly was however told that the Police are still hunting for the “unidentified” armed men who were behind the incident.
Statement

April 11
Shillong in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya

The ANVC-B said that the outfit is trying to bring back Singbirth N Marak alias Norok into the outfit for enabling him to participate in the peace pact. Norok had gone into hiding after he was accused of being involved in the Williamnagar jail incident which led to the death of the two jail staff. Reacting to a query on the media reports that Norok has formed the UALA, Marak said the former has confirmed that he has not sent any press release to the media about the formation of the new group. “He said that somebody is using his name for their own vested interest,” Rimpu Marak said. Rimpu Marak also asserted that UALA is an Assam based outfit which was conceptualized after the Garo-Rabha conflict few years back.
Statement

April 13 Shillong in East Khasi Hills
Contrary to the claims of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma in the Assembly that the peace pact with the ANVC was at an advanced stage, in-charge of North East in MHA, Joint Secretary Shambhu Singh said that the peace process would take more time to complete. "The signing of final peace pact with the ANVC militants is likely to take some more time with the Centre still processing the matter", said Shambhu Singh, adding that the matter was being processed at various levels. It was on January 5 that the draft peace pact was signed after an official level meeting held in Shillong between the representatives of the ANVC, the State and the Central Governments.
Statement

April 15 Shillong in East Khasi Hills
ANVC-B denied the news that one of its members had abandoned the outfit to float a new outfit of his own. Chairman of ANVC-B, Rimpu Marak said, the news about Norok X Momin floating a new outfit called the UALA is totally false. Regarding the recent news where the UALA criticized the Garo National Union and had stated that being A'chiks of Assam do not support the cause of GNU, the Chairman also informed that it was not Norok X Momin who commented.
Statement

April 16 Shillong in East Khasi Hills
The claims of ANVC-B chairman, Rimpu N Marak that his former 'action commander' Norrok X Momin remains with his outfit has been dismissed by Norrok himself who has gone on to form the UALA. The newly floated UALA headed by Norrok X Momin, whose real name is Singbirth N Marak, has accused the ANVC-B leadership headed by Rimpu N Marak and 'military chief' Mukosh Marak of aligning with the Rabha Hasong leadership in Assam to merge the Garo inhabited areas into the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council against the wishes of the people. "The ANVC-B chairman (Rimpu) and commander-in-chief (Mukosh) have signed up to merge the Garo areas with the Rabha Hasong for which they have been assured of Rs 5 crore as reward. It is because of their attempt to sell the rights of the Garos living in Assam that we have formed the UALA to oppose them," said Norrok in a strongly worded statement against the ANVC-B leadership.
Statement

April 17 Shillong in East Khasi Hills
ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu N Marak said that the decision of Norrok X Momin to form the UALA is his own personal prerogative. Marak said," He should take responsibility for his cadres even as we tried to get him back for the peace settlement."
Statement

April 19 Shillong in East Khasi Hills
ANVC-B has alleged nexus between the newly floated militant outfit UALA headed by Norrok X Momin-former action commander of ANVC-B, AIGU and the GNU in not allowing the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council to function through proper election. In a statement issued on April 19, ANVC-B chairman Rimpu Marak said, "UALA support to Garo National Union and All India Garo Union of Assam against the autonomous council election needs to be closely examined." The ANVC-B has also made it clear that the outfit would not oppose the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council elections schedule to be held next month. Norrok had blamed the ANVC-B of trying to sell the rights of Garos in Assam by allying with the Rabha Hasong autonomous council.

The ANVC-B leader was claiming that Norrok is still a part of the militant outfit which is under draft agreement with the State Government. Rimpu also said that there are 'influential people' behind him (Norrok) who are instigating him to be part of UALA even as he said that UALA will cease to exist without Norrok.
Statement

April 20 Shillong in East Khasi Hills
The AIGU has denied the allegations of ANVC-B that the union is having nexus with the newly floated militant outfit UALA.In a statement issued in Shillong, AIGU 'president' Elbarth Marak said, "The AIGU has no link with any outfit in any matter whatsoever." Earlier, the ANVC-B had alleged nexus between the newly floated militant outfit UALA, AIGU and the GNU in not allowing the RHAC to function through proper election.
Statement

April 22 NS
After facing defeat in the February 23 State Assembly polls, a Samajwadi Party candidate has allegedly joined the GNLA, a senior Meghalaya Police said. Rapiush Ch. Sangma (33), who had contested from Rongjeng constituency under East Garo Hills District, joined the GNLA soon after the counting of votes, which were held on February 28. Incidentally, Congress candidate Sengnam Marak, who is the younger brother of Dilash R Marak, the chief of the ANVC, won the assembly election.

"We have confirmed that Rapiush has been appointed as vice-chairman of the GNLA and he is hiding inside the thick jungles of Garo Hills," JFK Marak, the District Police chief of East Garo Hills said. "He (Rapiush) is a close aide of Sohan D. Shira, (the military wing chief of GNLA) and his objective joining the GNLA is to recoup the money, which he had spent during the polls, and with the hope that he will again contest the next polls "under the barrel of the gun," the official said.
Statement

May 5
New Delhi

The Union Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs headed by the Prime Minister is examining the final peace settlement with the ANVC and the ANVC-B. A State Home department official said that after the clearance from the Political Affairs Committee, the matter will be brought to the Union Cabinet for consideration. "We hope to get a favorable outcome from the Centre within a month," the official added. The draft documents related to the peace pact were earlier circulated to relevant Central ministries including the Home Affairs to get their comments. However, there was undue delay in reaching a final settlement coupled with a faction of ANVC-B led by Singbirth Marak alias Norrok X Momin forming the UALA. Asked about any hurdle due to the presence of various factions of the ANVC, the official said that the final peace settlement will be with all the factions of the ANVC and added that the Government hopes that all the groups under ANVC will come under the settlement.
Statement

May 6 Shillong in East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya
The ANVC-B has asked the State and the Central Government to expedite the final peace settlement with the outfit and all its breakaway factions, according to a report of May 8. ANVC-B leader Rimpu Marak said that the delay in finalizing the peace pact may lead to the possibility of emergence of other militant outfits. "The earlier the solution, the better it is for ensuring peace in the State," he said. It may be mentioned that Norrok X Momin, who was earlier a part of the ANVC-B, deserted the outfit and formed the UALA recently. The Union Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs headed by the Prime Minister is currently examining the final peace settlement.
Statement

May 10 East Garo hills in Meghalaya
A cadre of ANVC-B identified as Wesfield C Marak alias Dakchak was arrested by the Police while he was extorting money from traders of Williamnagar market in East Garo Hills District. A pistol, ammunition and INR 60,000 were recovered from him. However, though the cadre told the Police that he was a member of ANVC-B, the ANVC-B 'Chairman', Rimpu Marak has said that Dakchak is not ANVC-B but he belonged to the UALA led by Norrok (who recently broke away from ANVC-B).
Non-Violent

May 14
Shillong in East Khasi hills in Meghalaya

ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu N Marak has sought immediate intervention of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma in resolving various issues in Garo Hills which according to the outfit needed immediate attention and departmental ramification. In a communiqué sent to the Chief Minister, Marak said, "The drawbacks of each department in providing adequate facilities to the people can undoubtedly be assumed as the failure of the government."
Statement

May 15 NS
A former 'commander' of the ANVC-B Singbirth Marak alias Norrok X Momin has claimed that he was witness to the handing over of three sophisticated weapons to the outfit by Meghalaya Police in East Garo Hills District several months ago to take on the GNLA outfit. Norrok, who is presently the 'commander-in-chief' of the newly formed Garo outfit UALA, 'dared' Meghalaya Police and the ANVC-B leadership to prove their innocence into the alleged allegiance. "Then Circle Inspector of Williamnagar, TC Chacko, had handed over two AK-56 and one AK-47 rifles to Rimpu Marak when he was part of the main ANVC and we were witness to it. These weapons were then handed over to ANVC-B 'commander-in-chief' Mukosh and remains with him in Moskhoila area," alleged Norrok X Momin in an exclusive statement. He also said that the entire dealing had the 'blessings' of the Government which focused on eliminating the GNLA while on the other hand allowed the ANVC-B to thrive by indulging in extortion that continues to this day.
Statement

May 19 NS
The ANVC-B has denied the allegation of the UALA 'commander-in-chief' Momin that Police had handed over three sophisticated weapons to the outfit to take on the GNLA. ANVC-B leader Rimpu Marak, said that Norok's allegation is intended to disturb the settlement process and peaceful solution to Garo demands.
Statement

May 20 South Garo hills in Meghalaya
Five coal labourers were reportedly shot dead by armed militants in the afternoon of May 20 in retaliation for the quarry owner's failure to pay up extortion money on time in Nangalbibra region of South Garo Hills District. The armed group is said to have served demand notes on coal mine owners throughout Nangalbibra region in the month of April and amounts ranging from INR 500000 to INR 10 million has been demanded by the outfit. Meanwhile, primary suspect remains the newly formed UALA headed by one Norrok X Momin. The UALA was formed after Norrok X Momin parted ways with the ANVC-B to form the new outfit.
Violent

May 21 NS
The GNLA has sought a CBI inquiry into the alleged creation of ANVC-B with the 'blessings of the Meghalaya Government and the State Police'. The political secretary of GNLA, Bikdot Nikjang, said that with the UALA 'commander-in-chief' Singbirth Marak alias Norrok X Momin revealing that the Police and the Meghalaya Government provided arms to ANVC-B to take on the GNLA, the Government should order a high level probe into the incident. The UALA chief recently made a statement to the media that he was witness to the handing over of three sophisticated weapons to ANVC-B by Meghalaya Police with the blessings of the Meghalaya Government in East Garo Hills District several months ago to take on the GNLA outfit.
Statement

May 22 West Garo Hills in Meghalaya
Tura Police successfully intercepted a group of arms suppliers for militant groups, suspected to be GNLA and the ANVC-B, and arrested eight persons besides seizing pistols and ammunition from Chibragre picnic spot of Rongram near Tura in West Garo Hills District. Two 7.62 mm pistols along with seven rounds of ammunition and five magazine holders along with eight mobile phones and INR 5000 were seized from the possession of the arrested persons.

The breakthrough came following intelligence inputs about a possible meeting between Assam-based arms suppliers and their middlemen near Tura. The Police revealed that the gang had brought the weapons allegedly to sell to ANVC-B militants who had put up an order to buy them but had also previously sold a similar consignment to the GNLA. The weapons were brought to Garo Hills from Bongaigaon region after it was delivered to the Assam trio by the main supplier. The Assam arms dealers were then to sell the weapons for INR 70,000 each to the local dealers who in turn were to resell it to the Garo militant groups for a price of INR 100000-150000 each.
Non-violent

May 22 NS
UALA alleged that Meghalaya Police armed the ANVC-B outfit with weapons that had been seized from other militant outfits which were kept in the possession of the State force under directions from the political leadership.

UALA has accused its former group leaders from the ANVC-B of executing several members who wanted to part ways from armed conflict. The UALA 'military chief', Norok has put forward a set of names of individuals who have disappeared in a span of three years and hold accountable the ANVC-B leaders based in West Khasi Hills District. Dikeo Marak of Dainadubi village in North Garo Hills, Egale Marak of Ampati, Cheman Sangma, Thairteen Momin, Na'chot Sangma, Sengsu Marak, Mikdang Sangma, Tenang Momin, Chenang Momin, Gribinda Momin and Soman Marak are some of the names the UALA chief claims were killed and their bodies disposed off in the jungles of West Khasi Hills.
Statement

May 22 NS
AIGU has demanded a departmental inquiry against present Deputy Superintendant of Police of Nongstoin, TC Chacko, after allegations by the UALA chief that the Police official had handed over three sophisticated weapons to ANVC-B to take on the GNLA, according to a report. Though the ANVC-B has denied the allegations, the GNLA and CSWO have also sought for a detailed inquiry into the allegations.
Statement

May 22 NS
The ANVC-B has sought the intervention of State Home Minister Roshan Warjri to end the Police operations against them since the Government has already signed a draft peace pact, says a report. In a letter addressed to the Home Minister, the ANVC-B chairman Rimpu Marak said that they had signed the draft agreement on January 5, 2013, to bring peace to Garo Hills and adjoining areas where they have been operating so far. "We have restrained from all unlawful activities since then, hoping for peace and in order to bring about changes to our society. However, there is a constant hunt, provocation and operations against my cadres which renders it all futile", Marak said. He also 'revealed' that the Police and the parent organization ANVC are operating together in Garo Hills.
Statement

May 23 NS
ANVC-B has condemned the UALA chief, Norok for killing five labourers in a coalmine at Nangalbibra in South Garo Hills recently. In a statement issued on May 23, ANVC-B leader Rimpu Marak questioned Norrok on what he wanted to prove by killing innocent labourers, while adding that murder of innocent people for money would not bring any change to the people of Garo Hills. The ANVC-B leader also accused Norrok of killing one Silnam Momin, an ANVC-B cadre in Bolsrong, Bajengdoba area on May 19.
Statement

May 24 NS
ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu Marak denied that there is any new recruitment going on in the ANVC-B and maintained that there are no minor cadres with the outfit. "We have no minor cadres. No new recruitment is going on in the ANVC-B camp. We have been waiting for the official procedure for the final peace settlement, but nothing seems to be taking place," Marak said in a statement.

There were reports that after former ANVC-B leader Singbirth N Marak alias Norrok X Momin, who formed the UALA after taking away many of the ANVC-B cadres, Rimpu Marak began recruiting cadres to add strength to the militant outfit. Further, the photograph released by the ANVC-B on May 23 raised suspicions on whether ANVC-B has roped in minors & girls to add to its strength.
Statement

May 25 NS
ANVC-B has raised a women's militant wing to 'fight' crime against women. "We are Garo women joining the ANVC (B) to be safe. Many women are raped outside, but the ANVC (B) is safe for women and we are trained to defend ourselves from men," said Silan Ginchi Marak, the women's 'military wing chief' of ANVC-B on May 25. The women rebels, numbering around 300, are located in two undisclosed camps at Garo Hills in western Meghalaya. Meghalaya Government statistics reveal that in 2012, 236 crimes were reported against women, of which 158 were rapes.

Ginchi Marak also revealed that the UALA leader, Norrok alias Singbirth Marak is determined to kill them but she asserted that the cadres are ready to fight Norrok's men, 'though neither the police nor the Government is helping them'. In an earlier statement, the ANVC-B had made it clear that Norrok was a coward aiming to kill ANVC-B women cadres.
Statement

May 26 Shillong in East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya
The Centre has made it clear that it would not talk to any more splinter militant groups in future. The annual report of MHA 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 UALA were once part and parcel of the mother organization ANVC which is currently under ceasefire. While the current '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 'commander-in-chief' of UALA was a senior ANVC-B cadre.
Statement

May 27 NS
The ANVC-B, which is awaiting the final peace pact with the Government, has said that its cadres will donate blood to the blood bank in the civil hospital, considering that blood banks in the Government hospitals in Meghalaya are facing acute shortage of blood. The outfit has also decided to organize cleaning drives and plant trees at various places and has even announced that it wants to volunteer for free tuitions to the underprivileged children from the surrounding villages and also impart training in other disciplines like sports, music and various competitive games.

The outfit also pointed out that it is determined to come back to the mainstream and hopes to mend and build the society after the passage of the final peace pact. "Our anticipations are high as the peace pact would bring mass change in terms of development for the people which will ultimately help in the growth of the State," the outfit added.
Statement

May 29 West Garo Hills in Meghalaya
ANVC-B cadres led by their 'chairman' Rimpu Marak, donated blood in the blood bank of Tura Civil Hospital. According to the ANVC-B, the group participated in this act as a 'solemn gesture' towards the sick and the poor who were awaiting supply of blood to the blood bank. The outfit said the blood donation campaign was the first phase and they would participate in similar campaigns in the coming days keeping in mind the needs of the people.
Statement

May 30 NS
The magisterial probe into the killing of three ANVC-B militants at Dobu, Chittingbing village in East Garo Hills District of Meghalaya on March 9, 2013 revealed that no sufficient time was given by the Security Forces to the cadres to surrender. Three ANVC-B militants were killed in an encounter with SWAT.

The First Class Magistrate, Williamnagar, WCR Marak, who conducted the magisterial probe, said in his report, "The question on whether sufficient opportunities were given to the suspected militants to surrender cannot be answered in the affirmative". It was at the thatched house premises of Garo couple Sengkut Sangma and Sunilla N Marak that the three ANVC-B cadres were killed. Stating that the call of the security forces to the militants to surrender may not have been so audible, the probe report said, "The house (of the couple) is situated on the edge of the village and surrounded by thick jungle. There were only one or two houses nearby and the nearest being the house of Bialson Sangma, who is also the father-in-law of Sengkut Sangma".
Statement

June 5 New Delhi
Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma while addressing the Conference of Chief Ministers expressed concern over the rise in the unlawful activities of the GNLA. Sangma said, "Even though internal security situation in Meghalaya continues to be stable and under control, the GNLA remains a matter of concern."

Expressing concern over the recent activities of the ANVC-B which has even called for road blockades and bandhs, Sangma said that even though a peace pact was signed with the ANVC, way back in 2004, lack of resources to settle them and delay in arriving at a settlement resulted in emergence of fringe militant outfits.

He stated, "Other indigenous militant outfits like ANVC, HNLC and LAEF have been largely neutralized following sustained efforts, but they are instigated by the likes ULFA, NDFB and NSCN who use the state as a sanctuary and passage to both Bangladesh and rest of the region." The proscribed HNLC is almost finished but over a dozen of their cadres are still holed up across the border in Bangladesh, the Chief Minister said while adding that with the help of the Centre they too can be nabbed.

He also said that insurgents from neighbouring states use the long and porous Bangladesh border along Meghalaya to their advantage. He raised concern over rising militancy in the hill state due to two factors- lack of development and thin police presence- as the ones largely contributing to the continuance of militancy in the region and the State.

Demanding that six companies of Central Armed Police Forces which were taken away from Meghalaya for elections in Karnataka be redeployed, Sangma sought six more companies in order to deal with the militant menace in totality. He also called for more police and border outposts to check the militants.
Statement

June 9 NS
The ANVC-B cadres are in a state of disarray after their 'chairman' Rimpu Marak went 'missing' following a Police raid, threatening to go back to the jungle if the Police do not release their 'chairman' within 24 hours. In a statement issued on June 8, Doang Shira, the 'publicity secretary' of ANVC-B said that their 'chairman' has been 'missing' since June 5, when the Special Operation team (SOT) and other Police personnel raided a place at Babupara in West Garo Hills District between 3pm to 4pm.

According to the 'publicity secretary', before the incident took place, the 'chairman' was with two ANVC-B cadres. "After the incident, no one has seen our chairman and nobody has been able to make any contacts with him," the ANVC-B statement said. The 'publicity secretary' claimed that two of their cadres were eyewitnesses to the raid carried out by the Police, but they couldn't say anything further on what happened to the 'chairman' and how he disappeared from the spot.

the State Police has denied any role into the alleged disappearance of ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu Marak, as claimed by the outfit. The District administration has also denied having any information on the arrest of the ANVC-B leader.
Statement

June 11 Meghalaya
The chairman of the ANVC-B, Rimpu Marak, remains untraced. ANVC-B ‘sergeant’ Solid D Sangma, informed that the outfit had appealed to all the NGOs and leaders of Garo Hills to take up the issue and demand the government to locate their missing ‘chairman’ who allegedly was detained and whisked away by Police at Babupara on June 5. “Our (24 hour) deadline to the government is over. Now it is up to the NGOs and leaders to pursue the matter. Our boys do not mind going back to the jungles of Garo Hills and if our chairman is not found soon we will go back to the jungles of the Durama range and make it our home again,” asserted Solid D Sangma. He further stated that the future of Garo Hills was in the hands of its leaders and urged them to take the matter seriously.

The ANVC-B has also accused the ANVC of conspiring with the Police against the ANVC-B and stated that there was a conspiracy against the outfit. According to the ANVC-B ‘sergeant’ it was Sasan Sangma of the ANVC who had alerted the Police that Rimpu was at Babupara and subsequently the Police detained and whisked him away.
Statement

June 11 Meghalaya
In a statement issued, the ‘political secretary’ of GNLA, Bikdot Nikjang, while condemning the act of the Police on the issue of Rimpu Marak’s disappearance, said that it was to prevent the ANVC-B ‘chairman’ from spilling the beans on the formation of the militant outfit by the Police and some political leaders from Garo Hills ahead of the Assembly elections, that the Police now have arrested him. The militant leader maintained that the Police and some politicians had formed the ANVC-B, a faction of the parent body ANVC which is currently under ceasefire, to take on the GNLA cadres. “We had said in the past that there is a nexus between the police and ANVC (B) and now the so called ‘disappearance’ of Rimpu at the behest of the police is to prevent the ANVC (B) chief from revealing the nexus,” the GNLA leader claimed.
Statement

June 11 Shillong / East Khasi hills / Meghalaya
Aiming to prevent youths from the rural areas from taking up arms by joining militant groups, the State Government is now mulling to set up more residential schools at the block level. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, while admitted to the fact that the tendency of youths to join militant outfits is on the rise, advocated on the need to set up more residential schools in the blocks. For such an initiative, resources will prove to be a challenge and therefore we would like the support of the Ministry of Home Affairs,” Sangma said during a high-level meeting to review the overall law and order scenario in the State, which was attended by Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami and senior Government officials on June 11 evening.

Besides setting up schools in the blocks, the State Government is also contemplating to seek special package for Meghalaya from the Centre to promote sporting activities to veer the youths away from the path of violence.“Children as young as 12 years are joining the militant outfits as they are often lured by these organizations,” the Chief Minister noted. There have been reports surfacing from time to time on use of child soldiers by Garo Hills based militant outfits including the GNLA and the ANVC-B.
Statement

June 12 Meghalaya
The ANVC has alleged that the vehicles used in the ‘covert operation’ to abduct Rimpu Marak belonged to the parent organization, ANVC. In a statement issued, ANVC-B ‘General Secretary’ Jakrik Wareng A. Sangma allged that these vehicles were also used by Police on several occasions and the same was apprised to the State Home Minister in May.
Statement

June 12 Shillong / East Khasi hills / Meghalaya
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, informed that the peace agreement with the ANVC and its splinter group ANVC-B would be approved by the Union Government ‘very soon’. The Chief Minister said the Centre has intimated to the State Government that the draft peace agreement has received the recommendations of various Ministries and it would be approved by the Union Cabinet very soon.
Statement

June 13 Meghalaya
The ANVC, currently under a ceasefire agreement, has denied any role in the ‘disappearance’ of ANVC-B ‘chairman’ Rimpu Marak. In a statement issued on June 13, Tangcha A Sangma, assistant publicity secretary of ANVC said there is no basis for the accusation leveled by ANVC-B that one of its cadres Sasan Sangma had informed Police about the movement of Rimpu Marak at Babupara on June 5 following which the chairman was detained and whisked away by the Police. The ANVC-B had accused that Sasan Sangma’s vehicles were used in the operation against Rimpu Marak.
Statement

June 14 Meghalaya
ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu Marak, who went missing on June 5 resurfaced on June 13. ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu Marak has also expressed his commitment to sign the final peace settlement at the earliest. The ANVC-B in a statement issued to a section of the press on June 13 had said that the outfit's cadres had rescued Rimpu from Babupara in West Garo Hills. It also said he was on the way to Delhi. 'publicity secretary' of ANVC-B, Doang Shira, in a statement issued on behalf of the 'chairman' on June 14, said that the ANVC-B leader was determined to sign the final settlement before anything goes wrong during the waiting process.
Statement

June 20 Meghalya
ANVC-B has criticised the KHADC member, Adelberth Nongrum, who has demanded an amendment of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Council) Rules, 1951 to debar Garos and other tribes from taking part in KHADC elections.

The ANVC-B publicity secretary Doang D. Shira while expressing shock over the statement said, "How could Nongrum raise such a sensitive issue hurting the sentiments of the Garos, especially those living in Khasi Hills."According to him, Nongrum's statement could be seen as the prelude to "Garos leave Khasi Hills" in years to come which would only divide the state.
Statement

June 21 East Khasi hills / Shillong/ Meghalaya
Despite mounting criticism for his recent remarks, Adelbert Nongrum, Member of KHADC, stuck to his demand that the Garo population residing in Khasi Hills region should be debarred from voting or contesting the election to the KHADC. "The nomenclature of the Council (KHADC) itself indicates that this Constitutional body was created to protect the interest of the local Khasi population of the State," Nongrum said. While referring to the condemnation of the breakaway faction of Achik National volunteer Council (ANVC-B) on his statement, he said that the Garo militant outfit should not misunderstand his demand. "I am not against the Garo community. After Statehood, three separate Autonomous District Councils were created in the State to protect the interest of Garos, Jaintia and Khasi communities respectively," Nongrum said.
Statement

June 22 Meghalaya
ANVC-B said that the violence that erupted in Tura in West Garo Hills District following the molestation of a local girl by non tribal labourers on June 21 should not be flared up as all culprits have been arrested. ANVC-B leader Doang D Shira also appealed all citizens to unite in restoring peace in Garo Hills even as the outfit condemned the act of the labourers. "What happened on Friday was unfortunate as it has deeply affected the co-existence of different communities in the area, resulting in assault and deaths of some innocent people," outfit added.
Statement

June 26
East Khasi Hills / Meghalaya

The EC of KHADC will examine the various provisions of the Sixth Schedule before bringing an amendment to Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Council) Rules, 1951 to debar the Garos from taking part in the council's election. Informing this on June 26, the CEM Pynshngaiñ N Syiem said, "We do not know if there is any mention in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution which would allow the Council to bring such an amendment." Earlier, member MDC, KHADC, Adelberth Nongrum said that he would stick to his demand to debar the Garo population residing in Khasi Hills region from taking part in the KHADC elections. The ANVC-B has criticised Nongrum for making such a demand.
Statement

June 27
NS

The Centre is yet to give its seal of approval to the draft peace agreement between the Centre, State Government and ANVC. Sources in the State Home department on, June 27, informed that the final peace agreement is yet to be placed before the Union Cabinet for its approval. The Union Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs headed by the Prime Minister is examining the final peace settlement with the ANVC and the ANVC-B. After the clearance from the Political Affairs Committee, the matter will be brought before the Union Cabinet for consideration.
Statement

July 10 North Garo Hills
Angry villagers of Omarpur village in North Garo Hills District lynched three suspected militants of the ANVC-B,a Police official said. Police said two China-made pistols were also recovered from one of the victims.
Violent

July 11 NS
ANVC-B has refuted the news report that three of its cadres were lynched by villagers at Bajengdoba in North Garo Hills District saying that the victims were civilians. In a statement issued, the outfit's 'publicity secretary' Doang D. Shira said that the victims were lynched to death by a certain group of villagers which outfit believes Police would be aware of.
Statement

July 11 North Garo Hills
Secretary of Omorpul Village, North Garo Hills District, has denied that the villagers invited alleged ANVC-B cadres, who were lynched by villagers on July 10, for talks. In a statement, he asserted that the three people were hardcore criminals belonging to ANVC-B though they were swift to disown them.
Statement

July 15 NS
ANVC-B is ready to include GNLA 'commander-in-chief', Sohan D Shira in the ongoing peace process with Government. In a statement issued, ANVC-B leader, Doang D Shira said that this (making Sohan a part of peace pact) could change the situation scenario in Garo Hills. "We are open and ready to include Sohan in the signing of the peace pact," the ANVC-B leader said.
Statement

July 17 NS
GNLA out rightly rejected the ANVC-B offer of joining them for peace talks, accusing them of collaborating with the Meghalaya Government in 'eliminating' their cadres to weaken their outfit. In response to the statement issued by the 'publicity secretary' of the ANVC-B, Doang D Shira, inviting his organization to join the ongoing peace process with the Government, GNLA leader, Sohan D Shira reiterated that such a proposal from the rival outfit cannot be entertained since there is a move to try and bring the rebel group to its knees by the State Government in collaboration with the ANVC-B.

While it has distanced itself from having any involvement in the ANVC-B's offer of talks, the Sohan D Shira-led GNLA has said that it was ready to talk with the Central Government. "We will talk to the Centre, not with the ANVC," announced Sohan D Shira in a communique. He also claimed that arms including AK rifles supplied by Meghalaya Police DSP Chako to the ANVC-B were being used in operation to eliminate its cadres.
Statement

July 18 NS
The ANVC-B asked GNLA 'C-in-C' Sohan D Shira to reconsider the outfit's invitation to join the ongoing peace process with the government. The 'publicity secretary' of ANVC-B, Doang D. Shira said, "Sohan should reconsider our invitation and see through the possibility of being part of the final settlement which will pave way for real peace." According to ANVC-B, Sohan must understand that he was one of the signatories of the ANVC's ceasefire agreement in 2004. The GNLA leader had earlier out rightly rejected the ANVC-B's offer of joining the ongoing peace process.
Statement

July 22 Meghalaya
ANVC-B once again extended an invitation to the GNLA 'commander-in-chief' Sohan D Shira to be a part of the ongoing truce agreement with the State and the Central Government for the sake of lasting peace in Garo Hills. ANVC-B leader Rimpu Marak said, "We do not want our comrades led by Sohan to be left out of the benefits that are coming our way for the best of our people and the area we want them to be part of the settlement, equally sharing our platform, benefits and status in re-building our society."
Statement

July 22 East Garo Hills / Meghalaya
Three cadres of the ANVC-B were arrested by Rongjeng Police in the East Garo Hills District, for their alleged involvement in extortion. The arrested cadres were identified as Dinbirth Sangma (23), Rolling G Momin and Kanwar Momin (25).
Non-Violent

July 31 Meghalaya
The ANVC-B has urged the Government to expedite the process for overall development of Garo Hills. ANVC-B leader Rimpu Marak, said his group, one of the signatories of the draft agreement, was looking forward to the signing of the final agreement. The peace pact is awaiting Prime Minister's consent.
Statement

August 1 Meghalaya
The Centre has reached an agreement with the Garo Hills-based ANVC under which the autonomy of the GHADC would be enhanced. Informing this during a press conference, Union Home Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde said the agreement would be placed before the Cabinet for approval. "We expect that the signing of the agreement with the ANVC will improve the situation in the area (Garo Hills)," he said without elaborating much.
Statement

August 4 Meghalaya
ANVC-B has criticized the refusal of GNLA 'commander-in-chief' Sohan D. Shira to ANVC-B's call to join the peace pact, alleging that he has taken a hasty decision under the "influence of his political patrons." In a statement issued, ANVC-B 'publicity secretary' Doang Shira said, "The decision to decline our appeal to join the peace pact was taken by a few people without consulting the top leaders of the organization which has triggered some difference in opinions among the (GNLA) cadres." The ANVC-B said that Sohan's patrons assured him of talks with the Government which if achieved is a good scheme but if fails, lives will be lost.
Statement

August 8 NS
That with no end to the militancy-related violence in Garo Hills, the former Chief Minister SC Marak feels that the GNLA should be included in the peace process with the Government. According to Marak, when ANVC was created, there was chaos and havoc in Garo Hills, but after the peace talks with ANVC, there was relative peace which, however, was shattered by the emergence of GNLA.
Statement

August 9 Goalpara / Assam
Two militants belonging to the ANVC-B were lynched by locals and two others nabbed at Dorengtip in Kacharipara area of Goalpara District. The slain militants were identified as Nabang Marak and Watsi Marak while the arrested duo was identified as Rupert Marak and Smart Marak. The Police recovered one imported pistol, two live rounds and mobile phones from the possession of the two arrested militants.
Violent

August 11 NS
The ANVC-B termed the lynching of two of their cadres by a mob in Goalpara District of Assam on August 9 during a botched up extortion drive as 'cold-blooded murder'. The ANVC-B also claimed that "the 'cold-blooded murder' of the two cadres was a 'political conspiracy' instigated by the UALA and executed by the GNU with the blessing of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist)". "They (cadres) were there not to demand money but to collect information on Maoist intrusion in Garo areas," ANVC-B 'publicity secretary', Doang Shira claimed.
Statement

August 15 West Garo Hills
The Superintendant of Police (West Garo Hills District), M. K. Singh informed that in the night of August 15, two persons, Nokman N Marak (19) and Markos Marak (20), claiming themselves as cadres of the ANVC-B, were arrested along with a country made 9mm pistol in the Kherapara area of West Garo Hills District.
Non-Violent

August 18 NS
The GNLA has rejected a proposal by the ANVC-B to the Government to have a 'Territorial Council' with strengthening of the GHADC, and maintains that it would continue to pursue its goal for a Garoland State. The outfit's 'publicity secretary' Pantera Singgasik said, "The ANVC-B has mooted for a Territorial Council. We wish them the best. As far as GNLA is concerned we will seek nothing short of a separate state for the Garos," said the GNLA 'publicity secretary'.
Statement

August 22 East Garo Hills
The UALA headed by ANVC-B deserter, Norrok X Momin attacked the District council weigh bridge at Nengkra in East Garo Hills District in the night killing one employee, identified as T. Sangma. South Garo Hills Police have recovered a demand note of the UALA which was left by the militants after they attacked the weigh bridge. The UALA had demanded INR 20, 00, 000 as 'tax' from the lessee of the GHADC weigh bridge. Meanwhile, the ANVC-B has criticized the UALA for its reign of terror and claims that their greed for money and power through the barrel of the gun has resulted in most cadres leaving the organization.
Violent

August 27 Meghalaya
The ANVC-B has cautioned the State Government on the reorganizational activities of the ANVC, alleging that the parent outfit was recruiting cadres and procuring arms from Belbong, a well-known arms supplier. The ANVC-B in a statement issued, alleged that Belbong had been arrested along with a woman accomplice a few years ago and asked the Government to check all activities of the ANVC which was planning to keep the reign of insurgency alive even after the final settlement. The ANVC-B also alleged that several ANVC cadres, despite getting a chance for rehabilitation through the settlement policy, were planning to join the GNLA or attempting to float new outfits.
Statement

August 28 Meghalaya
The ANVC has expressed concern over the allegations levelled against its cadres by its breakaway faction, the ANVC-B. Refuting allegations that ANVC cadres were indulging in illegal activities, ANVC publicity secretary Artist Sangma said that the cadres of the outfit were disciplined. "The majority of the ANVC cadres, who are under ceasefire, are with their families and they are also engaging in small business. The allegations that the cadres are engaged in illegal activities have no basis," said Sangma.

The executive committee of GHSMC, which has been agitating for the creation of a separate state for Garos, has decided to discontinue its ongoing sit-in-demonstration from August 29. The GHSMC has been demanding creation of a Garo state on the linguistic lines of the States Reorganizations Act, 1956.
Statement

September 3 NS
The much-awaited peace pact with the ANVC has cleared all necessary hurdles, with the exception of one, before it is brought to the Union cabinet for approval. A Meghalaya Government official, said the Agreed Text for Settlement with the ANVC and its breakaway factions has received clearance from all Union ministries with the exception of the law ministry.
Statement

September 12 NS
The ANVC-B has reiterated that it neither allows its cadres to extort nor resort to dacoity like its splinter group, UALA. In a statement issued, the ANVC-B said that the outfit's policy is different from that of other organisations because of its leaders who are more conscious of the change needed for a better society.
Statement

September 15 NS
The ANVC-B has demanded official 'Suspension of Operations' against its cadres on the basis of the peace pact between the outfit and the State Government. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, Jakrik Wareng A Sangma, 'general secretary' of ANVC-B, said that despite taking part in the peace pact, no official proceedings have been undertaken for suspension of operations and support or assistance for the cadres, unlike the treatment meted out to its parent group, ANVC.
Statement

September 16
East Garo Hills

UALA militants attacked the residence of an ANVC-B cadre in Williamnagar town of East Garo Hills lobbing grenades and opening fire from automatic weapons in the night.
Violent

September 18
NS

The ANVC-B has strongly condemned the attack on the residence of its cadres at Williamnagar by UALA militants.
Statement

October 6 Meghalaya
UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh cautioned that the proposed strengthening of the ADCs in accordance with the demand of the ANVC by amending the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution might lead to a conflict between the Government and the District Councils. In his reply to the query, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma assured that the transfer of power would be only on those subjects which have been laid down in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Statement

October 7 NS
Surrendered cadres of a rival outfit ANVC and also retired personnel of a central paramilitary force are believed to be working for the banned GNLA outfit as part of a separate unit created to procure weapons from different states of the North East.
Violent

October 20
Meghalaya

The ANVC-B celebrated its foundation day with the village folks and the cadres at its Eden Bari Camp at Tura in West Garo Hills District. ANVC-B strongly emphasized on the outfit's policy of serving to the cause of the people with a mission to bring about long lasting peace to the five Districts of Garo Hills.
Statement

October 27 NS
With the dwindling resources to maintain camps and to feed the cadres, the ANVC-B has joined coal business for survival. The ANVC-B, a faction of parent organization ANVC, had also joined the peace pact with Government in January 2013.
Violent

November 7 NS
The ANVC-B, has made serious allegations about the presence of a 'mole' in the State Police who informed the GNLA militants about the movement of the five police personnel, who were killed in the ambush. In a statement, ANVC-B alleged that that the movement of Police escorts was specifically informed to the GNLA. The ANVC-B said that the attack has given a glimpse of accessibility of GNLA into Police activities, which is not going to prove safe in the long run.
Statement

November 8 South west Garo hills
Suspected ANVC-B militants, who entered from the porous Bangladesh border, shot dead two BSF constables and snatched away their INSAS rifles at around 10.20 am on November 8 near Kaithakona outpost in South West Garo Hills District. The slain BSF constables have been identified as Sushish Biswas and Papu Kumar Yadav. However, the ANVC-B was quick to react denying its role in the killing of BSF personnel while asserting that GNLA militants were involved in the crime. According to the ANVC-B, the GNLA is not alone but is being backed by foreign elements including ULFA.
Violent

November 10 South West Khasi Hills
BGB has assured its counterpart BSF of full cooperation in arresting the militants involved in the killing to its two guards on November 8 by suspected ANVC-B militants. The assurance came from BGB during a sector-level meeting which was held at Bagli (South West Khasi Hills District) international border. The meeting decided to maintain a better co-ordination between the two forces while acting against militants. BSF and BGB are also conducting joint patrolling along the priority patches of the 443 Km Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya sector.
Statement

November 10 NS
ANVC-B has claimed that the GNLA perpetrated the violent act in retaliation to the seizure of the latter's weapons by the BSF recently. According to ANVC-B, the GNLA cadres who attacked the BSF men on November 8 had a plan to drop the ULFA cadres to receive the arms consignment which was seized by the BSF a day before.
Statement

November 12 South West Khasi Hills
Coal traders in Borsora and Nongjri areas in South West Khasi Hills District are concerned over the activities of militants from Garo Hills and Assam which are demanding money ranging from INR 500,000 to INR two million. According to a coal trader who received a demand note of INR 1 million from the GNLA, it is not only the GNLA that is working together with the ULFA and are demanding money from the traders in the area but the ANVC-B is also operating and competing with the said militants outfits. In a letter sent by the GNLA to the trader, the militants warned him to 'cooperate without failure' and warned that any 'thoughtless act' (by the trader) would lead to serious consequences as 'actions' will be taken according to their (GNLA) law.
Violent

November 13 South West Khasi Hills
The ANVC-B outfit, which is under the scanner of security forces for their alleged involvement in the attack on a BSF outpost in South West Khasi Hills region, claims to have orchestrated an attack on a hideout of its rivals in a remote region of Garo Hills injuring three militants.
Violent

November 14 Meghalaya
The ANVC, currently under ceasefire since July 2004 has expressed concern over delay on the part of the Government to release the monthly stipend of INR 3,000 each, which has been pending since March this year.
Statement

November 15 West Garo Hills
As many as seven ANVC cadres have reportedly fled from their liaison office at Tura youth hostel with a substantial number of weapons to form a new outfit called the ATF blaming the Government and the outfit's leaders for turning a blind eye to their problems. The cadres reportedly fled under the leadership of Balsrang who happens to be the camp in-charge
Violent

November 17 NS
Following claims by the ANVC-B that it had attacked a GNLA camp and injured three cadres on November 13 at a place called Rongmil Chiring in South Garo Hills, a special team of the Meghalaya Police was deputed to scout the area, but never came across any militant camp and instead found a small empty thatched room in a jhum field that was riddled with bullet holes. A blood trail led to the recovery of a dog injured with a bullet wound.
Statement

November 17 NS
The ANVC-B has reiterated its claims of a violent clash with the GNLA in Rongmin Chiring of South Garo Hills and has refused to accept the Police version about shooting of an empty jhum hut and a dog. The ANVC-B issued a clarification saying that the Police version of the incident is not correct. The Police investigation dismissed the claims of the ANVC-B about any encounter and the investigation has instead indicated that it was a staged incident in which militants from the same group are accused of planting an old wireless set and a few empty ammunition shells to blame a rival outfit.
Statement

November 21 NS
Though the ANVC has admitted that Sangma went missing on November 15, from Tura, the militant outfit is not sure whether he formed a new militant organisation called ATF. In a statement issued, Tangcha A.Sangma, assistant publicity secretary of ANVC, said that that only one of the cadres Balsrang Sangma has been missing from the camp since November 15 along with an office vehicle and not seven cadres as reported. Commenting on the missing cadre, The ANVC asserted that till any concrete information regarding his whereabouts is known, Balsrang is still part of the organization and "we will continue searching for him".
Statement

November 22 Ns
UALA has blamed the ANVC-B for the disappearance of ANVC cadre, Balsrang Sangma from the liaison office at Tura Youth Hostel.
Statement

November 24 NS
ANVC-B has called for a public opinion on free and fair trade in Garo Hills and also on measures to check price rise. In a statement issued, the ANVC.B said that obstruction to free and fair trade in Garo Hills is a major concern and it is sad to see why outsiders are progressing considerably in short span of time at the cost of the locals.
Violent

November 25 Shillong / East Khasi Hills
The State Government, said that it has done its part on the final peace pact with the ANVC and now, Centre has to take a final decision. "The State Government has done its part on the aspect of truce and now the ball is in the court of the Central Government", a senior Government official said.
Statement

December 3 Shillong /East Khasi Hills
The Political Affairs Department has shelved an important magisterial inquiry into the allegation of militant outfit UALA that Police had armed ANVC-B with weapons seized from other militant groups, to take on GNLA. The allegation of UALA, the breakaway group of ANVC-B, made in May this year was that with the blessings of the Police and the Government, the then Circle Inspector of Williamnagar, TC Chacko, had handed over two AK-56 and one AK-47 rifles to ANVC-B leader Rimpu Marak when he was part of the parent group ANVC and the UALA chief Singbirth Marak alias Norrok X Momin was witness to it.
Statement

December 4 NS
The ANVC-B has asked Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to listen to the voice of people as far as the demand of the pressure groups to introduce ILP was concerned. In a statement issued here, the publicity secretary of ANVC-B, Doang D Shira said that while the Government listens to militant organizations who are ready to 'kill', the voice of the people during the rally on ILP held in Shillong is ignored. According to the ANVC-B, the stubborn attitude of the Government is turning Meghalaya into a battlefield.
Statement

December 4 New Delhi
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma met the Prime Minister in Delhi and urged him to speed up the peace pact with ANVC, the Centre has asked the State Government to provide more inputs on the structure of the Council once it is empowered with 10 more additional seats from the current 30 seats. Sangma, during his recent visit to the Union Capital, had urged the Prime Minister for expeditious finalization of agreement with ANVC in Meghalaya. However, the process of final settlement will be delayed since the Union Home Ministry has sought further clarity on the number of reserved and nominated seats in the Council as per the draft peace settlement.
Statement

December 9 NS
ANVC-B has accused the State Government of indulging in partial treatment of its cadres, stating that most of its cadres are joining new outfits since the Government is sidelining the ANVC-B while providing all support to its parent outfit, ANVC. In a statement issued on December 9, ANVC-B leader, Doang D Shira said that after signing of the Peace Pact, ANVC-B cadres had come over ground but never received any support from the Government. "Mukul Sangma invited us to be part of the peace pact which we now see as a political ploy. Our response for peace is seen by the Government as a way to corner us," the ANVC-B leader said, adding, "We came forward for peace but the Government's failure to provide support and packages have disheartened our cadres."
Statement

December 11 NS
The ANVC-B has asked the State Police to refrain from provoking the outfit. The ANVC-B is miffed with the fact that two police vehicles were making random checks in the vicinity of its camp, right after the group made a public statement against negligence on the part of the Government.
Statement

December 13 West Garo hills
A cadre belonging to ANVC-B, identified as Geidon G Momin had surrendered in Tura in West Garo Hills District. He was the 'area commander' of North Garo Hills. On his lead, one 9 mm pistol and 5 rounds of ammunition were recovered from one Damas, Police added.
Non-violent

December 16 South Garo Hills
SFs arrested an ANVC-B militant, Tengseng T Sangma, from Gasuapara in South Garo Hills District. SFs also seized extortion notes from his possession.
Non-violent

December 16 NS
ANVC-B accused the ANVC of setting up an ambush for the leaders of the breakaway faction at Chandmari ATM in Tura of West Garo Hills District. Rangdo R. Marak, "joint secretary" of the ANVC-B asked the ANVC cadres to "stop hunting us" or "we will be forced to retaliate for which we will not be responsible".
Statement

December 17 NS
Annoyed over the arrest of a ANVC-B cadre Tengseng T Sangma, who was coming home for Christmas, the ANVC-B 'Publicity Secretary', Doang Shira in a statement issued said, " Mukul Sangma must remember what we did for him instead of making us targets". However, the rebel leader did not elaborate on what the militant group did for the Chief Minister. The ANVC-B leader said that there is a desperate attempt by the State Government to wipe out ANVC-B cadres before the upcoming elections so that the ANVC-B is finished off and the Congress gets majority.
Statement

December 17 NS
A statement issued by Rangdo R. Marak, the outfit's 'joint secretary', said the ANVC-B had a meeting recently to discuss the "unwarranted arrest" of its cadres by police while they were visiting their families. "ANVC-B leaders Akimbri, Doang, Ajaju, Nado and others met to discuss and inquire why the government was applying a faulty policy on the outfit's cadres when they are moving without any ill intention and not carrying weapons," Marak said. In that meeting, the agreed text for settlement with the ANVC and its breakaway faction was finalised, and the same had received the state government's nod. However, the Centre was yet to approve it.
statement

December 18 Meghalaya
Encouraged by the wide acceptance of their earlier album, the ANVC-B is now coming up with its new Christmas Album 'Juta Gital' (New Shoe). In a statement issued, ANVC-B leader Doang Shira said that the album will be a gift to the people this Christmas. He asserted that ANVC-B songs have made a big impact in the minds of young people and the songs have strong messages with unique improvisation which have made a big impact among the young and old alike, specially the Youths. He said that though ANVC-B is a part of the "Peace Pact" but Government treats them like rebels and outlaws.
Statement

December 18 NS
The ANVC-B alleged one of their cadres was arrested by State Police at Mendipathar in East Garo Hills District. "Freedom of our cadres is forcefully being snatched by state Police, we do not have freedom in our own land, we cannot move about anywhere anymore. This festive season will see many of our cadres behind cell. Our patience is being tested and frustrated," ANVC-B 'leader' Rangdo Marak said.The ANVC-B accused the State Government of intentionally provoking them and having no idea things can get real ugly if the outfit lose control of its cadres. Rangdo Marak warned the State Government to stop hunt when things are still in control for peace sake and if things go out of hand ANVC-B need not be held responsible.
Statement

December 20 NS
A section of the Breakaway faction of the ANVC indicated that it would walk out of the "peace pact", following what the outfit describes as the "unwarranted arrest" of its cadres.

ANVC 'Chairman' Susime Marak expressed his disappointment over the delay of the final settlement between the Centre, State and the outfit during the observation of the outfits' 19th Raising Day at Ballonggre near Tura. Expressing concern and disappointment Marak stated that though the centre, state and the ANVC had signed the agreement early this January the final settlement was yet to happen. He however stated that the steps taken by both the state and the centre governments were appreciated and hoped that the final settlement would come soon.
Statement

Source:Compiled from news reports and are provisional

Incidents and Statements involving Achik National Volunteer Council: 2014

Date

Place

Incident

Nature of incident

January 2

NS

The ANVC-B said that three of its cadres, including two women, have gone missing while they were coming back to the camp after shopping for the "new year feast". The ANVC-B also called upon all its 'officers' and cadres to report to the camp before January 7. "This is an emergency call. Those who fail to report will be listed as absconding or as deserters and action will be taken as par the organization's law," the ANVC-B leader Doang Shira said.

Statement

January 7 NS
Two police personnel sustained bullet injuries when their team was attacked by ANVC-B militants, during a visit to the outfit's camp, at Edenbari, on the outskirts of Tura in West Garo Hills. The firing from the militants' side caught the police team by surprise and two police personnel, Sub-Inspector Starson Sangma and Head Constable Chittaranjan Banai, who were leading the group, were hit.
Violent

January 8 West Garo Hills
Tura Police have filed an FIR and registered a criminal case under the Arms Act against the (ANVC-B) militants who attacked Policemen from Chandmari beat house when the latter had gone to investigate a missing persons report leading to bullet injury on two Police personnel.
Non-violent

January 8 Shillong
ANVC-B asserted that the outfit had no intention to attack any policemen but the 'provocation' on the cadres who were already feeling insecure after the disappearances of their cadres was a 'little too much'. In a statement issued in Shillong, ANVC-B 'member' Doang Shira defended his cadres saying that they were defensive and not offensive.
Statement

January 10 NS
The ANVC-B claiamed that its 'chairman' Rimpu Marak had a role retaining Mukul Sangma as the Chief Minister when there was a tussle for power during the last term. The ANVC-B also threatened to go back to jungle and return only to bring down Mukul Sangma -led Government.
Statement

January 11 West Garo Hills
SFs killed four militants of the ANVC-B at Dobasipara area in West Garo Hills District.
Violent

January 11 West Garo hills
Suspected ANVC-B rebels lobbed a crude bomb at a petrol pump in Hawakhana area in Tura of West Garo Hills District. Though there were no casualities in the explosion, two vehicles were damaged.
Violent

January 11 NS
A day after making allegations of a nexus between Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma and ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu Marak, the outfit seems to be turning into a divided house, with its 'publicity secretary' Doang D Shira on January 11 negating all claims of the nexus made by ANVC-B 'political secretary' Ajaju R Marak.
Statement

January 12 NS
The ANVC-B has claimed that four of their cadres were killed in a "fake encounter" on January 11. "The killing of B cadres is a "fake-encounter". ANVC-B cadres were tied to a tree and killed in cold blood by the police. One cadre escaped with bullet injuries," ANVC-B 'publicity secretary' Doang D Shira stated in an e-mailed statement.
Statement

January13
Shillong / East Khasi hills

The Commissioner and Secretary in-charge Home (Police) Jopthiaw Lyngdoh said that the breakaway faction of ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu R Marak had signed the agreed text of settlement [signed on January 5,2013] as a member of the ANVC.To a question whether they will adopt the same yardstick in case the GNLA wants to be part of the text of settlement especially when the outfit 'commander in chief' Sohan D Shira was a signatory to the tripartite agreement, Lyngdoh said the inclusion of GNLA in the agreement which had already been signed, is now out of question.
Statement

January 14
Shillong / East Khasi Hills

CM, Mukul Sangma said that the GNLA can also be part of the agreed text settlement if they agree to come under the ambit of their parent organisation, the ANVC.
Statement

January 14
Shillong / East Khasi Hills

ANVC-B claimed that it never filed any FIR over missing cadres with the administration. The outfit has also stated that there was a strong possibility that one of the four cadres killed by Police at Daren Agal on January 11 may have been its 'political secretary' Ajaju R Marak. So far none of the four bodies have been identified and no family member has come forward to claim them.
Statement

January 16
Shillong / East Khasi Hills

Differences have begun to surface within the ranks of the ANVC-B with its new 'political secretary' accusing the group's 'chairman' Rimpu N Marak and the Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma of doing little to take the peace process forward.
Statement

January 16
Shillong / East Khasi Hills

A day after DGP Peter James Pyngrope Hanaman displayed the Police FIR given by the ANVC-B to enquire into the disappearance of three cadres; the outfit on January 16 claimed that the FIR was fake. In a statement issued, ANVC-B leader Doang D Shira claimed that the cadres named in the missing report were still with the outfit when the police team attacked the outfit's Edenbari camp.
Statement

January 17
West Garo hills

Suspected ANVC militants fired on the vehicle of an unnamed Government official who was travelling from Tura (West Garo Hills District) to Baghmara (South Garo Hills District). The official, however, escaped unhurt.
Violent

January19 Meghalaya
ANVC-B 'commander-in-chief' Mokus Marak alleged 'nexus' between the Chief Minister and ANVC 'chairman' Dilash Marak.
Statement

January 19 Meghalaya
The ANVC has urged all militant groups operating in Garo hills to come forward to participate in the peace process.
Statement

January 20 West Garo Hills
The West Garo Hills District administration will announce a magisterial probe on January 21 on the recent encounter at Darengagal, near Chunmati Dobasipara, where four cadres of the ANVC-B were killed. West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi on January 20 said, "After sending reports to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), we were waiting for their directive. So far, we have not received any directive. However, we will formally announce a magisterial probe tomorrow."
Statement

January 21 Meghalaya
The additional district magistrate DD Shira will head the magisterial inquiry into the alleged fake encounter which led to the killing of four ANVC-B cadres by Police on January 11 in West Garo Hills. The magistrate has been given four weeks time to complete the probe, the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi informed over phone from Tura.
Statement

January 21 Meghalaya
The ANVC-B claimed to have inputs and evidence of ANVC's contacts with GNLA, UALA and other terrorist organisations including the Pakistan spy agency the ISI.
Statement

January 22 Shillong / Meghalaya
A year after the draft peace pact, a tripartite meeting among the ANVC and its (ANVC-B, the State and Central Government officials will be held on January 23 in Shillong to ensure that there is conducive atmosphere in Garo Hills before arriving at a permanent settlement. Top leaders of ANVC and ANVC-B, officials of the Home Departments of State and MHA will attend the meeting. The meeting will also scrutinize the ground reality after the draft peace pact was signed in January 5, 2013.
Statement

January 23 Shillong / Meghalaya
CM Mukul Sangma said that peace accord with ANVC would be signed at the earliest. "At the present pace and with the coming forward of other groups and splinter groups, final and lasting peace will shortly be ushered in the Garo Hills," Dr Sangma said while welcoming the outcome of January 23's tripartite meeting on peace pact. The CM said that certain modalities such as detailing the number of cadres and tabling an inventory of arms and ammunition must be completed for the process to move on.
Statement

January 23 Shillong / Meghalaya
ANVC-B 'Chairman' Rimpu Marak said, "We don't know when it is going to be finalized but it is going to happen soon, maybe another two months".
Statement

January 23 Shillong / Meghalaya
ANVC 'Publicity Secretary' Arist Sengsrang N. Sangma also said that the pact would be tabled in the upcoming Parliament session.
Statement

January 23 Meghalaya
The ANVC-B has accused the Tura police of implanting IEDs and arms against the militant outfit on the outskirts of Tura where four ANVC-B cadres were killed in an encounter with the Police. ANVC-B 'Chairman' Rimpu Marak said, "We are not an armed organization and those IEDs and arms were planted against us.
Statement

January 28 Shilong / East Khasi Hills
Meghalaya's opposition NPP renewed its demand for resignation of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma in view of his alleged nexus with Garo Hills-based militant outfit ANVC-B besides seeking a CBI or NIA probe into the allegation.
Statement

February 2 NS
The ANVC-B has demanded early rehabilitation of its cadres who are currently scattered. As a part of the ongoing tripartite peace settlement with the ANVC, the ANVC-B has also submitted the list of its 151 cadres and an inventory of its arms and ammunition to Meghalaya Police sometime at the end of January.
Statement

February 2 West Khasi Hills
Amid the allegation of politician-militant nexus, the Government is yet to fully probe an alleged case of Police-militant nexus involving the then Circle Inspector of Williamnagar, TC Chacko, who is currently posted as the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nongstoin. The UALA, a breakaway group of ANVC-B had alleged that with the support of the Government and Police higher ups.
Statement

February 2 NS
Former Lok Sabha Speaker and NPP leader PA Sangma, demanded an independent and impartial probe into the killing of four ANVC-B cadres including the 'political secretary' of the outfit, Ajaju Marak, who revealed the alleged nexus of Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma with ANVC-B militants.
Statement

February 6 West Khasi Hills
The bodies of an abducted contractor, Rutherford Marak and two unidentified men were recovered at Darechikgre between Daribokgre and Sakalgre villages in West Garo Hills District on February 6. According to Manseng, the militants shouted slogans in the name of ANVC-B while taking Rutherford along with them. However, the outfit, in an email to media houses, had denied their involvement in the abduction and killing.
Violent

February 7 West Khasi Hills
West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi has asked Additional District Magistrate (ADM) DD Shira to complete the inquiry into the incident in which four ANVC-B cadres were allegedly killed during an encounter with Police on the outskirts of Tura in West Garo Hills on January 11.
Statement

February 11 Meghalaya
After the ANVC-B submitted the list of cadres to the Police, the State Government is planning to rehabilitate the militants, around 150 of them, in camps to be opened shortly. Though the list of around 150 cadres was submitted, the ANVC-B cadres are yet to handover the weapons to the Police.
Statement

February 12 Meghalaya
A group of senior GNLA leaders led by former 'finance secretary' Reding T Sangma have broken away from the outfit's military 'chief' Sohan D Shira and formed their own organization christening it ASAK. The 'commander-in-chief' (C-in-C) of the new outfit, Reding T Sangma, gave in detail the reasons for parting ways with Sohan D Shira. He blamed Sohan for the fratricidal killings within the GNLA group and for targeting other 'revolutionary' outfits like the ANVC-B and the Norrok X Momin led UALA making them sworn enemies.The new outfit ASAK, which literally means the vanguards of Garoland has named its headquarters as Grikram.
Statement

February13 Meghalaya
The ANVC-B has said that initiative is still on to reach out to several groups for lasting peace in Garo Hills.
Statement

February 13 NS
MHA has referred the text of the draft settlement agreement to be signed with the ANVC, a ministry official said on February 13. "We have submitted the draft settlement agreement to be signed with the ANVC to the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the final approval," Shambhu Singh, joint secretary (northeast) in the home ministry said. "Once the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs gave its sanction to draft agreement, the Centre will finalise the date for final signing of the peace accord with the ANVC," he said.
Statement

February 18 NS
The ANVC-B has alleged that attempts are being made to mar the peace process in Garo Hills which has already witnessed bloodshed.
Statement

February 18 West Garo Hills
Two militants of the Breakaway faction of the ANVC-B, identified as Belbong and Raga, were killed in West Garo Hills, a Police official said. "Two ANVC-B cadres were gunned down by GNLA (Garo National Liberation Army) rebels at Sankinigre area this morning allegedly for extorting money in the name of the GNLA," said West Garo Hills District SP Mukesh Kumar Singh.
Violent

February 18 NS
ANVC-B expressed doubt over the role of APVC, the newly formed vigilante group, and source of the footage that was leaked to media where a GNLA cadre executed an unidentified victim mercilessly. The ANVC-B also added that if the GNLA is willing to join the peace talks, Government must process necessary steps at the earliest to bring them on board in the best interest of Garo hills.
Statement

March 2 NS
The rift within the ANVC-B has come to light with the formation of another group, Matchadu Matchabet, a popular phrase used in Garo hills, meaning an animal which looks a bit like a tiger and a bit like a man.
Violent

March 3 NS
New underground organizations mushrooming in the Garo Hills are wooing the ANVC-B cadres who are frustrated over the failure of the Meghalaya Government to set up designated camps for them, according to the ANVC-B leadership. In a statement, ANVC-B resented that the Government was yet to finalize designated camps for its cadres. ANVC-B is in a peace pact with the government since January 2013.
Statement

March 4 West Garo Hills
GHSMC held a meeting recently and resolved to organize a public rally at Selsela in April, 2014 to intensify the demand for Garoland Statehood in a democratic way. The demand for Statehood is in line of Linguistic Act 1956 and State re-organisation Act 1956, the General Secretary of GHSMC Augustine Marak said. "On behalf of the people of Garoland we appeal our beloved brothers of GNLA, ANVC-B, UALA, LAEF, ASAK, ATF, Matchadu Matchabet, ANLCA, ANCA and other splinter groups to turn to the main stream", Marak said.
Statement

March 10 NS
ANVC-B in a statement has alleged that the Government is secretly continuing operation against ANVC-B cadres. "There seems to be lack of sincerity in restoring peace and normalcy in Garo Hills", the ANVC statement added. The ANVC-B also urged the Government to finalize the designated camps for the cadres at the earliest.
Statement

March 10 South West Khasi Hills
A suspected militant of the ANVC-B, identified as Wansimphang Snaitang, was arrested by Borsora Police in South West Khasi Hills District while he was extorting money from traders at gunpoint.
Non-violent

March 10 Shillong/ East Khasi hills
Meghalaya Home Minister Roshan Warjri told the State assembly on March 10 that the Centre needs to be consulted before initiating peace talks with GNLA, since GNLA was a banned organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.
Statement

March 10 Shillong/ East Khasi hills
Meghalaya's opposition UDP asked the Government to institute a probe into the alleged nexus between Chief Minister Mukul Sangma with a militant outfit. "It has been revealed in the media that the Chief Minister (Mukul Sangma) has the support of the militant outfit ANVC in order to help him remain in power," Opposition Leader Donkupar Roy told the Assembly.
Statement

March 11 NS
ANVC-B continues to have in its arsenal an assortment of weapons, including over three dozen AK series assault rifles, along with small arms and hand grenades, a cadre of the outfit who was arrested on March 9 revealed. He also told the Police that the two assault rifles stolen from slain BSF jawans (troopers) during an ambush in November, 2013, are currently hidden inside the general headquarters of the group. The militants had also looted from the jawans 100 rounds of ammunition and a walkie-talkie handset.
Statement

April 1 Shallang/West Khasi Hills Shallang Police arrested Geren R Sangma an overground worker of Breakaway faction of ANVC-B and recovered arms and ammunition from his at Bokchung Village near Shallang in West Khasi Hills District. Police recovered one 0.32 pistol with 4 live ammunition, 3 SBBL rifles with 30 rounds of live ammunition, one air rifle, one air pistol, two camouflage magazine pouches, one ANVC-B letter pad and one seal of the ANVC-B 'area commander'. Geren R Sangma was taken to Shallang Police Station. Non-Violent

April 10 Garo Hills Turf war between militant factions in five Districts of Garo hills in Meghalaya has made the counter insurgency operations of the Security Forces being extended beyond the realms of the recent operationalised areas. The splinter groups of the ANVC have taken over certain bases of the mother organisation and extended their areas of operations beyond those known coal belts that have been the hot bed of extortion and abductions. Non-Violent

Non-Violent NS A senior Home Department official said that a meeting would be held on April 24 with the ANVC-B leaders especially to discuss the ways and means to rehabilitate the ANVC-B cadres and the need to enter into a formal cease fire. Statement

April 21 NS ANVC-B may skip April 24 meeting with the Government since it is yet to receive any official communication from the State Government in this regard. 'Publicity Secretary' of the outfit, Daong D Shira,notified the press. Statement

April 24 Shillong Meghalaya Government has formally decided to provide the breakaway faction ANVC-B with designated camps to its cadres in three proposed areas located in North Garo Hills and the border areas of South West Khasi Hills and South Garo Hills District as well as in the fringes of West and East Khasi Hills District.
Deputy Commissioner of the North Garo Hills, South West Khasi Hills and West Khasi Hills has been asked to identify the areas for camps of Breakaway faction of ANVC-B The area that the government is looking at in North Garo Hills is towards the fringes with Assam and the others is towards the unutilized spaces in the Garo dominated areas along the bordering Districts of Khasi and Garo Hills. State Political department has been asked to identify and verify the cadres of the outfit before short listing the designated camps. Statement

April 28 NS ANVC-B stated that "Government must stop secret operations and stop hunting ANVC.-B cadres as it is turning the cadres frustrated. These operations will lead to repercussions which will hamper the peace initiatives". Statement

April 30 NS ANVC has no worries to the proposed creation of designation camps for its breakaway faction ANVC-B. . ANVC 'publicity secretary', Arist Sangma said We have no grudges against the ANVC-B instead we are happy that its cadres will be put in a designated camp that the state government is trying to locate". The ANVC-B, albeit its separate entity since a section of its leadership came out from the parent body was not officially part of the peace pact entered with the Government. The State Government insistence that they should be part of the parent body signatories paid off, but the ANVC-B perseverance prompted the State Government to look for a camp for the cadres of the breakaway faction of the ANVC. Statement

May 6 NS State Government has given its nod to setting up of two official camps for ANVC-B, one in West Khasi Hills and another in North Garo Hills. . A Home department official said that since many ANVC-B cadres hail from West Khasi Hills, the Government has allowed setting up of a camp in that district as it would prove to be 'conducive for the cadres'. Justifying the decision to set up the second camp in North Garo Hills, the official said that since many ANVC-B cadres hailed from Assam, the location was ideal. Statement

May 8 NS South West Khasi Hills District Administration has informed the Meghalaya Government that land is not available to set up a proposed designated camp for ANVC-B bringing much relief to the pressure groups in the District who had strongly opposed the move by the State Government to set up a designated camp for the Garo Hills-based militant outfit in the Khasi Hills region. KHADC CEM Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit had strongly opposed the decision of the State Government to set up a camp of the ANVC-B in West Khasi Hills District. Statement

May 9 Shillong Reacting to the opposition from pressure groups and political parties in the Khasi hills, the ANVC-B offered to provide land for the proposed camp and asked the Government to take the offer if it was not able to locate suitable land for the proposed designated camp in Khasi Hills. In a statement ANVC-B leader Doang Shira stated that, "The proposed land will in no way belong to Khasi people. Non-Violent

May 11 NS ANVC-B reiterated its demand for a designated camp in Khasi Hills for its cadres, stating that there would be "no solution" if the camp was not established.
ANVC-B 'chairman', Rimpu Marak issued a statement appealing to the District authorities to cautiously handle the recent assault case of the 12 girls in Tura, West Garo Hills. The ANVC-B has pointed the alleged role of ANVC cadres in the assault case. Statement

May 12 NS State Home Department is yet to decide on the allotment of designated camps to ANVC-B. There were reports of confrontation as the militant outfit wanted a camp in West Khasi Hills or South West Khasi Hills Districts whereas several pressure groups from these Districts opposed the move. Home Minister Roshan Warjri said" that "The Government has not decided anything, and we have not discussed the matter". The government had asked the Deputy Commissioners of South West Khasi Hills and North Garo Hills to identify suitable area for setting up of one camp each for ANVC-B. But recently the South West Khasi Hills District Administration told the Government that land was not available to set up a camp for ANVC-B. Statement

May 13 Shillong Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said that State Government would not be dictated by anyone while deciding on the site for setting up of designated camps for the ANVC-B and that Government will decide on the setting up of the designated camps in accordance with the requirements and needs. Statement

May 13 NS KSU West Khasi Hills District, in an emergency meeting, provided the Government with a two-week deadline to scrap the order for setting up the ANVC-B designated camp. KHNAM and HSPDP and local headmen of various villages of west Khasi Hills District have strongly criticised Governments decision to open camps for ANVC-B in West Khasi Hills District.
FKJGP West Khasi Hills District unit has condemned the proposed designated camp of ANVC-B in West Khasi Hills District stating that the decision would lead to communal clashes between the Garos and the Khasis of the State. Statement

May 22 NS CM Mukul Sangma said, the Government was yet to take any decision regarding the setting up of ANVC-B camps either in West Khasi Hills or South West Khasi Hills Statement

May 23 Shillong In a memorandum submitted to State's Home Minister, the KSU opposed the proposed designated camp in West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills Districts meant for ANVC-B. Non-Violent

May 23 Shillong Home Minister said that Meghalaya Government had not yet taken any decision to set up designated rehabilitation camps of ANVC-B in the Khasi Hills region. Home Minister said, "The State Government would not take any decision which would be against the wishes of the people. Statement

May 27 New Delhi ANVC-B 'chief' Rimpu Marak met with officials of MHA and stressed the need to include GNLA for negotiations. Rimpu Marak stated that "Without bringing GNLA to the negotiating table, there will be no peace". Non-Violent

May 27 NS ANVC-B 'chief' has written to Joint Secretary MHA-NE on the delay in finalising camps and schemes for rehabilitation for the group. Non-Violent

June 8 NS ANVC-B said that there is a hope of restoring peace in Garo Hills since GNLA 'chairman' Champion has been considering the possibilities of avoiding further bloodshed. Statement

June 11 NS ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu Marak in a letter to Home Minister Roshan Warjri said that "Militancy problem has risen considerably in Garo Hills because situations such as these have wounded the youths deeply and the atrocities and injustice of the mechanism of the Government which was duty bound to protect the civilians have unfortunately evolved into draconian system of corruption." Statement

June 10 New Delhi A Sangma, a Lok Sabha member that the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had nexus with various militant rebel groups, especially with ANVC-B. Statement

June 15 NS ANVC-B requested the GoI to speed up the peace pact settlement between the outfit and the two Governments. ANVC-B 'chairman' Rimpu Marak said in a memorandum that there was a need to speed up the settlement since implementation of schemes under the peace pact would pave way for job opportunities for youths which,will help young people to engage in jobs rather than taking up arms. Statement

June 16 Shillong Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma stated that Government has not taken any decision regarding the set up of a designated camp for the ANVC-B in West Khasi Hills. Statement

June 18 Mellim-Rangsakona/ West Garo Hills The group which had abducted the official was a mixed group including petty criminals and militants with one identified as Kakarong who is a militant of ANVC-B. Non-Violent

June 18 NS ANVC-B demanded the C.M to provide a designated camp for the outfit's cadres in the Khasi hills. ANVC-B stated that C.M had invited them to join the peace pact in December 2012 knowing that ANVC-B represents cadres from West Khasi Hills District. Statement

June 18 NS Top agenda for Meghalaya C.M who will leave for Delhi on June 19 is the early signing of peace pact with ANVC. Statement

June 19 NS ANVC-B admitted that Kakarong alias Jongsu who was involved in the abduction of the SBI Manager manager Arvind Kumar was its deserted cadre. Statement

June 23 NS ANVC felt political dialogue and not armed struggle should be a mean to achieve the objective of a separate Garoland. the 'publicity secretary' of the ANVC 'publicity secretary' Artist Sangma stated that he has informed deserted cadres and leaders of the new armed Garo outfits through intermediaries to come together in achieving the ends. Statement

June 24 NS ANVC-B, blamed Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for the deteriorating law and order situation in Garo Hills and sought for the Centre's intervention to deal with the situation. Statement

June 25 NS MHA official stated that official signing of the peace settlement between ANVC and the State Government and GoI will be done after the Budget session, August 14. Though the initial demand of the ANVC was for the formation of a Greater Garoland, and subsequently for the creation of Garoland Autonomous Council, it has scaled down demand to seek empowerment of the existing GHADC. Non-Violent

June 27 NS State Government has, through a notification, extended the tenure of the GHADC by six months to facilitate the peace pact with ANVC. This was done to accommodate the demands of the ANVC to enhance the council strength from 30 to 45. However due to activities of the ANVC-B, Union Cabinet cannot endorse the agreements before announcing the formal pact. ANVC 'spokesman' Arist Sangma stated that the ANVC is adopting a policy of 'wait and watch'. Statement

Source:Compiled from news reports and are provisional.

SAIR

Maps

Maps

DownLoading Is In Progress

BHARAT PRASAD

Sunday 6 July 2014

Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) MEGHALAYA

Incidents and Statements involving Achik National Volunteer Council: 2014, 2013, 1998-2012

Incidents and Statments Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC): 1998-2012

2012

Incidents and Statements involving Achik National Volunteer Council: 2013

Incidents and Statements involving Achik National Volunteer Council: 2014

No comments:

Post a Comment

Total Pageviews

Hi friends

HI FRIENDS