Meghalaya CM calls for peace after Garo militants sign deal

Shillong: Meghalaya chief minister has expressed hope that peace would return to the strife-torn Garo Hills after rebel outfits A'chik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) and its breakaway faction, ANVC(B), signed a peace agreement with the Centre and the state government.
"The agreement signals the state government's commitment towards ensuring peace," the chief minister said. He said the agreement has sent a strong message to youngsters who have gone astray and added such youth need to "return to the mainstream".
"This will certainly have a positive impact on the law and order situation in the Garo Hills," a senior police officer said.
The peace agreement was signed in New Delhi on Wednesday at a meeting presided by Union home minister Rajnath Singh and attended by Sangma, state home minister Roshan Warjri, Union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju, Union home secretary Anil Goswami and leaders of both ANVC and ANVC (B).
Former Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga, chief executive member of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), representatives of Garo Students’ Union and other non-governmental organizations were also present.
The text of the peace agreement has been broadly divided into three sections: political, organization-related and development issues.
"Congratulating Sangma and the ANVC leaders for cooperating with the negotiating team, headed by the Centre's representative PC Haldar, home minister Singh hopes Meghalaya becomes a peaceful and developed state," Meghalaya’s undersecretary (political department) said.
"He (Singh) congratulated the people of Meghalaya for showing maturity and wisdom and recognizing the role of peace for overall socioeconomic development," he added.
"The state government wishes to place on record its appreciation of the sagacity shown by the leadership of ANVC and ANVC (B) in recognizing the futility of violence. This will show the path to other misguided outfits. The government reiterates its appeal to all militant outfits within Meghalaya to come ‘over-ground’ and join the mainstream," the senior official said.