Tripura, Mizoram and Sikkim, the report says, have remained peaceful. In Arunachal Pradesh, barring a few incidents, there has been a general atmosphere of peace.
The ministry’s annual report for 2013-2014 also states that the situation in the Northeast has shown an “overall improvement” in 2012 and 2013 except in Meghalaya where casualties have gone up mostly because of extortion and abduction. “The security situation in some of the northeastern states has remained complex for quite some time because of diverse demands advocated by various militant outfits,” the ministry states.
In Meghalaya, the report states, militant activities are centred in the five districts of Garo hills region — West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills and North Garo Hills. Adjoining West Khasi Hills, which has a substantial Garo population, is also affected by the Garo hills militancy.
From 2007 to March 2014, 423 militant-related activities were reported in Meghalaya. During this period, 487 militants were arrested, 95 were killed and 173 surrendered. At the same time, 19 security forces were killed while 105 civilians died. (See chart)
The report also mentions that militant groups active in neighbouring states like Ulfa, NDFB, NSCN (I-M) and others “have been using the Garo hills corridor for sneaking in and out of Bangladesh” taking advantage of the adverse geographical conditions and the remoteness of the area.
“Militant outfits of the neighbouring states have encouraged, trained and nurtured Garo militant groups like the A’chik National Volunteers’ Council (ANVC) and the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA). The Ulfa, NDFB and NSCN (I-M) also have their command structure in Garo hills,” the report adds.
It says the cabinet committee on political affairs had on February 28, 2014 approved a proposal for implementation of the Agreed Text for Settlement signed between the Centre, Meghalaya government and the ANVC. The group, which has been under suspension of operations agreement since June 23, 2004, and which has been extended upto March 31, 2015, took part in tripartite meetings in Shillong on January 23 and March 28 this year.
The ANVC has been demanding more powers to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC). It had proposed that the seats should be enhanced from 30 to 40 (35 directly elected members and five nominated members).
The report says, “The ANVC (B), the breakaway outfit of the ANVC, also came on board to sign the final peace accord between the government of India, the Meghalaya government and the ANVC.”
However, the breakaway faction has been maintaining that the state government never wanted it to come for the peace pact. “There is no official suspension of operations despite us making appeals and the state government getting directives from the Centre. They did not even provide us a camp nor rehabilitated our cadres,” it recently said.
The memorandum of settlement is yet to be inked.
Chief minister Mukul Sangma had recently said the home ministry had intimated that a date for signing of the memorandum of settlement between the Centre, the state government and the ANVC would be indicated soon.
Comprising eight states and over 200 ethnic groups with distinct languages, dialects and socio-cultural identity, the region covers eight per cent of the country’s landmass and has four per cent of the national population.
Source: The Telegraph
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