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Shillong, March 10: The ANVC (B) today gave a twist to yesterday’s encounter at Dobu in East Garo Hills by stating that its three cadres were not killed by police but by unknown attackers.
Yesterday, East Garo Hills police stated that the three militants, who were armed with sophisticated weapons, were taking shelter at Dobu Chitingbang village.
The police said acting on specific information, a team led by sub-inspector N. Ray, in-charge of Dobu operational group centre, conducted a raid and at 6.15am an encounter took place between the police team and militants. During an exchange of fire, the three militants died on the spot while others escaped.
The police said from the documents which were recovered from the site, it is obvious that the militants belonged to the ANVC (B), a breakaway faction of the A’chik National Volunteers’ Council (ANVC).
The ANVC (B), in a statement, strongly suspected that the trio were killed by “unknown attackers” and not by the police.
“Election is over and foul play begins. We have signed a draft agreement to come to a peaceful solution and bring peace for the people, but the moment some politicians took over killings have started in their areas,” the group stated.
It also claimed that the cadres were not “extorting”, but were mobilising the villagers about the draft agreement.
“The attack strategy was not that of the police. We suspect foul play in the killings. The cadres are not members of the banned organisation and we had assured cooperation. So what was the intention of the killing — for peace or to disturb the peaceful initiatives?” the ANVC (B) further asked.
The outfit said: “We have come overground for peace and not to be hunted down. This act will surely bring in differences among the cadres as the slain cadres were teenagers who had nothing to do with Norok.” Singbirth N. Marak, alias Norok, is known to be one of the ANVC (B) “commanders”.
The ANVC (B) said one Samar is not an ANVC (B) cadre, but a civilian who was picked up not while extorting but from his house. His being an ANVC (B) cadre should be verified, the group said.
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