ANVC militants on the offensive in Garo Hills

TURA, May 26 ? Garo militants belonging to the banned A?chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) have lately been on the offensive in the three districts of Garo Hills. Their impact can mostly be seen in the West Garo Hills district where they have been striking at will in spite of Tura having the largest concentration of force which includes the district police, MLP Battalion and the CRPF. The sudden spurt in militant activity in the normally peaceful district has made senior police officials sit up and take notice.

Following the latest killings and failure on the part of the police to nab any of the militants in their regular combing operations, the police department sent the Inspector General of Police (IGP) law-and-order, Rajiv Mehta, to Tura on Thursday to hold a meeting with the heads of all the three district SPs and to chalk out a joint strategy. The Government and the police department have expressed concern over the sudden rise in militant activity in the district and IGP Mehta has asked the three SPs to ?vigorously? launch operations to flush out the militants. ANVC militants in collaboration with the banned NDFB have been selectively making their presence felt in West Garo Hills. Apart from the kidnapping of two traders from Phulbari in the early part of this year they also attacked a CRPF camp at Chibinang with rocket launchers in January. They continued their kidnapping spree and killing of suspected police informers in the district and even dared to open fire at Phulbari market last week killing two persons. They also abducted one person during the incident. They recently shot dead one person at Mukdangra bridge after reportedly torturing him for days on the suspicion that he was a police informer.

The ambush on a police party led by Ampati OC near Betasing, last month, was the first of its kind in West Garo Hills. Two police personnel, including the officer-in-charge (OC), were injured in the ambush. On the 13th of this month ANVC militants shot dead Bhupender Singh of Tinsukia, Assam, at his coal quarry in Darang Akep, Nangalbibra, South Garo Hills. He was reportedly shot dead for not paying up to the militants. The only form of achievement by the police in the Garo Hills came from South Garo Hills during the beginning of this month. South Garo Hills police busted the southern command operational centre of the ANVC at Rewak village before it could begin its work. They recovered a powerful VHF wireless set and incriminating documents from the camp and also arrested one of the militants. Inspite of South Garo Hills having the smallest number of police force and the largest forested area the situation in the district has not been a dismal one for the force. West Garo Hills is bearing the brunt of militant activity because there is a lack of coordination, strategy, and failure on the part of intelligence gathering, experts believe. Inspite of numerous operations conducted in the district there has been no achievement. A complete revamping of the force is on the offing to counter the militant threat in the Garo Hills, police sources revealed. Beginning with the revamping is the likely appointment of young officers, who have had a successful stint with militancy, in the districts of East and West Garo Hills.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Darwin Sangma is expected to takeover as DSP headquarter in Williamnagar, East Garo Hills, while present officer DSP Jerry Marak will take over as Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Resubelpara. DSP Dalton P Marak will fill the vacant post of DSP, District Special Branch (DSB), Tura and Assistant Commandant of 2nd MLP Battalion, Juby Marak will take over as DSP headquarter, Tura, from the present officer, P. Barua. DSP Barua will take over as Assistant Commandant of 2nd MLP battalion.