TURA, November . 16: The ceasefire monitored ANVC outfit in Garo Hills has reportedly not received monthly stipend from the government to pay their 163 cadres who are lodged in different camps in Garo Hills for the last nine months raising concern that some of the boys could defect to rival outfits as witnessed in recent past.
Each of the 163 militants from the main Garo outfit which signed a ceasefire with New Delhi and Shillong in July 2004 have not received their monthly stipend of Rs 3000/- from the month of March, this year,that totals Rs. 4.89 lac.
The ANVC leadership is of the view that such delays are having a negative impact on the morale of the cadres and the recent violation of ceasefire rules by one of their own. Ginjing, who helped the GNLA to plant IED explosives on the Kherapara road may have had to do with financial requirements on an individual basis. “We have been raising the matter with the state government for the last many months.
While the Chief Minister has been very understanding to our demands it is the bureaucratic level that has failed us,” said the ANVC political secretary.
Narrating the outfit’s tale of running from pillar to post, the ANVC claimed that they had communicated with the Additional Director General of Police, Tennyson Dkhar, about the need to release the funds at the earliest. “While assuring us of the release at the earliest we were also asked to get in touch with Meghalaya principal secretary K S Kropha. He assured us of the funds release within seven days. This was before the Durga Puja. Till date no funds have been released,” revealed the ANVC leader.
With the December month of celebration round the corner, the ANVC leadership appears worried that further delay for release of the funds could encourage the younger cadres to defect to other groups and thereby jeopardize the already volatile situation of Garo Hills.(SP News)
