SHILLONG, Dec 12 ?The Centre would review the ceasefire agreement with the Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) militant outfit in Meghalaya before the expiry of its six-month term on January 23 next, reports PTI. Union Home ministry?s joint secretary Rajiv Agarwala would visit Tura in West Garo Hills district, where the liaison camp is located, on or before January 23 to review the adherence of the ceasefire ground rules, State Home minister H D R Lyngdoh said on Sunday.
The ANVC had signed a ceasefire agreement with the Centre and State government on July 23 this year for an initial period of six months. The Joint Monitoring Group, which met in Delhi on December 9 last, discussed the adherence of ceasefire ground rules in which the ANVC agreed to give a list of its cadres who will stay in the two designated camps. Relating to organising cricket matches in different parts of Garo Hills, the Home minister said the outfit would hold monthly discussions with the district administration to sort out the issue.
?Positive response?: The Meghalaya Government has expressed happiness over the ?positive response? of the outlawed Achik National Volunteers Council, which declared ceasefire on July 23 last, in agreeing to submit a list of its cadres to occupy the designated camps.
?It is a good gesture,? Chief Minister D D Lapang told reporters on Saturday after a Joint Monitoring Group meeting to observe ceasefire ground rules held among representatives of the Centre, state and the ANVC in New Delhi on Thursday. On initiating political dialogue with the ANVC, which has been demanding ?greater Garoland? - comprising Garo Hills areas, parts of Assam and Bangladesh - the Chief Minister said that he had not heard anything ?officially? (from Delhi) so far.
The state?s Home Minister, H D R Lyngdoh, giving more details of the outcome of the JMG meeting, said that the ANVC had agreed to submit its list by December 20 along with arms and weapons. If any of its cadres wants to come out of the camp, an ?outpass? would be issued to him, Lyngdoh said.
Lyngdoh?s statement came in the backdrop of some confusion in government and political circles here as the ultras, despite declaring the truce in July were not staying in designated camps - as required under the ceasefire ground rules.