The Achik National Volunteer Council was formed in December 1995 with the purported objective of carving out a homeland called the ‘Achik Land’ in the areas of Garo Hills. The proposed ‘Achik Land’ comprises the present districts of Garo Hills in Meghalaya and a large chunk of Kamrup and Goalpara district of Assam. The ‘Garo majority' in these areas is used as the argument for this demand. The ANVC differs from the other Garo separatist organisation, Garo National Council (GNC) which aim for a Garo State comprising only the three districts of the Garo hills.

Prominent among the ANVC's attacks is the February 1998 ambush, in which two policemen were killed and Rs. 800,000 was looted in East Garo Hills. In October 1998, five security force personnel were killed and over Rs. 100,000 looted during an attack in East Garo hills. In August 1999 two policemen were killed when suspected ANVC terrorists blew up two jeeps at Aniaga village in East Garo hills. In August 2000, ANVC issued a call for a 36-hour bandh in Manipur in a bid to disturb the Independence Day celebrations.

Extortion remains the major source of funding for the ANVC. Incidents of abduction are frequent in the state. Money is regularly collected from the trading community of the area in the name of ‘fund collection’. Another source of the outfit's funds, which came to light recently, is the fake currency circulation initiated by Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). In Meghalaya, ANVC along with the other prominent outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) abets this infusion of fake currency and in turn receives considerable operating funds. The ANVC maintains close links with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). On June 17, 2001 a section of the local press published a news item stating the outfit's decision to severe ties with the NSCN-IM and the NDFB. However, within a week, on June 24, 2001, the outfit refuted the announcement and reaffirmed its ties with both the outfits.

In view of the rehabilitation package announced by the Union government in 1999, a several terrorists of the ANVC began surrendering to the authorities. This alarmed the outfit, which issued a threat in May 2000 to its former members-who have surrendered-to pay back the expenses incurred by the outfit in training them. They were also warned against joining any other group, a warning, which was extended to their family members too.

The two prominent terrorist outfits in the State, ANVC and HNLC have consistently adopted a recalcitrant attitude towards any offers for a negotiated solution to their perceived issues. In June 2000, the Meghalaya government had issued an invitation to both the ANVC and HNLC for a dialogue, an offer, which was rejected by the ANVC.

No credible information is available regarding the command structure of the outfit. However, the outfit announces its programmes throguh its publicity secretary, Arist Sengsrang Sangma.