Security has been stepped up along the porous Indo-Nepal border on the eve of Independence Day,a top security personnel said. The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has intensified vigil and jawans have been asked to remain on high alert,Commandant of the 1st battalion of SSB,Lalit Kumar said. The force has also demanded right for maintaining control over mobile phones and is trying to access information on the internet,he said. Security beefed up in Nagaland for I-Day celebration Kohima: Security measures were tightened across Nagaland and on the inter-state border areas for peaceful celebration of Independence Day tomorrow. The main function would be held at the civil secretariat ground here where Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio will host the national tricolour,official sources said. Although no organization in Nagaland has called for a boycott or strike,the police and paramilitary forces are watching vulnerable places on the inter-state border with Assam where ULFA and the anti-talk faction of NDFB have called a general strike,the sources said. Two factions of the Naga National Council (NNC),the pioneer of the Naga political movement,today celebrated 'Naga independence day'. The NNC had declared 'Naga independence' on August 14,1947,one day ahead of Indian independence. ANVC: From guns to guitars this Independence Day Shillong: Once they use to speak the language of guns. Now they have chosen the strings of guitar to send across their message of peace. While six militant groups have called for a boycott of the Independence Day celebrations in the Northeast,one outfit,presently under ceasefire,is organising a rock concert for peace to mark the day. The Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC),under ceasefire since 2004,has organised 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 on the same day. In previous years,the HNLC-called bandhs have affected the Khasi-Jaintia districts. ANVC spokesman Torik K Marak said the concert will start at 3 pm in 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 unique 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 said,adding that this 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," Director General of Police (DGP) S B Kakati observed. 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 Centre's appointed interlocutor so far. Earlier in March this year,the 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.
