From Guns to Guitars This Independence Day

Shillong, Aug 14 : Once they use to speak the language of guns. Now they have chosen the strings of guitar to send across their message.

While six militant groups have called for a boycott of the Independence Day celebrations in the Northeast, one outfit, currently under ceasefire, is organizing a rock concert for peace to mark the day.

The Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), under ceasefire since 2004, has organized the rock concert at Tura, the district headquarter town of West Garo Hills in Meghalaya tomorrow.

Ironically, another rebel group of Meghalaya, Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has called for a 36-hour bandh the same day.

In previous years, the bandh called by HNLC has been affecting the Khasi-Jaintia districts.ANVC spokesman Torik K Marak said the concert will start at 3 pm at the district auditorium.

"Five prominent bands of Tura will perform, including some members of the outfit," he said."ANVC is not into violence. Our objective is to focus on peace in Garo hills. We are very serious about the peace talks with the government," Marak said from Tura.

The district administration is supporting the initiative."They (ANVC) have ceased all operations against the state. They came up with this idea. We have all reasons to support them," district commissioner Sanjay Goyal told PTI adding that the initiative would send a positive signal to the people and create an atmosphere of faith.

"It is a welcome gesture by the ANVC but sadly enough it does not percolate down to the HNLC''s head," observed S B Kakati, the State Director General of Police (DGP).

The rebel group, the ban on which had expired in November, 2008, has around 175 cadres.

Formed in December 1995, the ANVC had entered into a tripartite ceasefire agreement on July 23, 2004, which has been extended every three months.

There have been two rounds of talks with the interlocutor so far. Earlier in March, ANVC had a meeting with Centre's interlocutor P C Haldar in Shillong over their demand for a separate Garoland Territorial Council, an autonomous body for all the three districts of Garo Hills East, West and South on the lines of Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam.

They have been insisting on this council after dropping their demands for a separate Garoland state.