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Incidents and Statements involving HNLC: 2015

Date
Place
Incident

Nature of incident

Janaury 7

NS

HNLC reiterated its readiness for talks but made it clear that it was not ready for demobilization and disarmament. In a statement e-mailed to media houses, the HNLC 'publicity secretary' Sainkupar Nongtraw said their main agenda in coming forward for peace talks was to achieve a political solution to the burning problems Demanding equal treatment [Khasi and Garo militants], the outfit said that the Chief Minister should avoid being one-sided to prevent disunity among the people of Meghalaya. We deserve to be treated as equal as the HNLC was born out of ALMA and HALC. The A'chik [Garo homeland] and the Hynniewtrep [Khasi-Jaintia homeland] should not be divided politically but they should remain united for lasting peace in the region," Nongtraw said.

Statement
January 22

NS

HNLC announced a 24-hour shutdown to boycott Republic Day. , HNLC "publicity secretary" Sainkupar Nongtraw said the shutdown would come into effect from 6pm on January 25 and continue till 6pm on January 26 across the six Districts of Khasi-Jaintia hills region in Meghalaya.

Statement
February 4

NS

State Home Department is yet to find an interlocutor for initiating peace talks with HNLC. A senior Government official on February 4 stated that search for interlocutor was ongoing.

Statement
February 15

Shillong

Unlawful activities (Prevention) Tribunal, which will meet in Shillong for two days from March 8, is likely to recommend extension of ban on HNLC. HNLC, formed in 1992 was first banned on November 16, 2000 for a period of six months which was subsequently renewed.

Non-Violent
February 16 Shillong/East Khasi Hills

Despite requests by the District Administration and Police, commercial establishments in Shillong remained closed in the wake of 12-hour shut down called by HNLC.

Non-Violent
February 17 NS

BSF IG Meghalaya Frontier, Sudesh Kumar stated that top leadership of HNLC is in Bangladesh.

Statement
February 23 NS

Office of The Registrar, Unlawful Activities Prevention Tribunal, Delhi High Court, will hold its hearing for examination of witnesses on the matter relating to declaring HNLC as 'unlawful association' on March 7 and 8,at Shillong in East Khasi Hills District. The Tribunal is likely to recommend extension of the ban on HNLC for another five years.

Non-Violent
March 8

NS

The meeting of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal headed by Justice A.K. Pathak, which discussed the extension of ban HNLC has fixed April 18 as the next date for hearing. The meeting held at Umiam in East Khasi Hills District for two days from March 7 was inconclusive.

Non-Violent
March 9 Shillong/East Khasi Hills

Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi has made a conditional talks offer to both GNLA and HNLC by saying that commitment of the Government to have dialogue with the militant outfit remains, provided they give up their anti-national stance and abjure violence.

Statement
March 10 NS

HNLC asked MHA to first ban all the 'Hindutva 'militant groups' of the Sangh Parivar instead of banning HNLC

Statement
March 12 NS

The former 'chairman' of HNLC turned-politician Julius Dorphang said that he is open to play the role of a negotiator with HNLC if the State Government wants it and the outfit abjures. He also asserted that there should be a conducive atmosphere for holding talks and the outfit should first declare unilateral ceasefire.

Non-Violent
March 15 NS

HNLC has seven camps across three Districts of Bangladesh, stated senior BSF officer. Seven camps are at Pucthichera, Phanai Punaee in Moulavi Bazar area (Rest camp), Nunachera in Moulavi Bazar area (Transit camp), Bulsuri under Rangmati area (Transit camp), Arusumer in Chittagong Hills Tract (Training camp), Islapunjee and Noonchera in Moulavi Bazar (Training camp).

Statement
March 16

NS

Reacting to the offer of former HNLC 'chairman' and Mawhati legislator Julius Dorphang to be a negotiator for the HNLC, the Chief Minister said that the matter of negotiation with the HNLC would jointly be decided by GoI AND State Government

Statement
March 22

NS

HNLC claimed that its leadership has declared unilateral ceasefire against Government and wanted GoI to appoint an interlocutor at the earliest, while threatening to launch an attack against Central forces if GoI continued to delay the peace process.

Statement
March 31 NS

Office of the Registrar, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal Delhi High Court will hold its hearing for examination of more witnesses on matter relating to declaring HNLC as 'unlawful association' on April 18.

Non-Violent
April 6 NS

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, Delhi High Court, will hold a hearing for examination of more witnesses on declaring HNLC "unlawful association" on April 18.

Non-Violent
April 16 NS

HNLC ban may be extended to five more years. Office of The Registrar, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal Delhi High Court will hold its hearing for examination of witnesses on matter relating to declaring HNLC as "unlawful association" on April 18.

Non-Violent
April 19 NS

HNLC has called for a 12-hour shut down on April 22 in Khasi-Jaintia Hill region, "in protest against the Indian political leadership and for the atrocities perpetrated by the Sangh Parivar on minorities".

Non-Violent
April 19 NS

GoI , according to State Officials has not been paying any heed to the State government's eagerness to invite HNLC for talks, as it has received intelligence inputs from IB and SIB about the dwindling numbers and its gradual disintegration.

Non-Violent
April 19 NS

Meghalaya Police sources have also corroborated the IB claims and confirmed that there are only 25 senior HNLC members including the 'general secretary' and the 'commander-in-chief' who are active and still at large. According to the police sources, new recruits do not receive any instruction or training since the HNLC does not have any functional training camp.

Non-Violent
April 21

East khasi Hills

In view of HNLC bandh East Khasi Hills District administration has arranged buses for the public to attend their respective offices.

Non-Violent
April 22

Khasi and Jaintia Hills

HNLC dawn-to-dusk bandh passed off peacefully on April 22 with no untoward incident reported in the whole of Khasi and Jaintia Hills

Non-Violent
April 23

NS

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma stated that his Government is waiting further correspondence from GoI before taking the peace overtures forward with HNLC. He stated that "We are aware and are positive towards the HNLC offer and that is why that we have been corresponding with the Union Home Ministry on how to go about it."

Statement
May 1 NS

HSPDP the Meghalaya Government for repeatedly changing its stand on the proposed peace talks with HNLC. HSPDP vice president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit stated that "If the Government is eager to have a dialogue with a dangerous organization like GNLA. which continues to kill people in Garo Hills, I do not see any difficulty in inviting the HNLC for talks even if they have only five to ten members.

Statement
May 4

NS

HSPDP slammed the State Government for taking a U-turn on its commitment to call HNLC for peace talks. HSPDP Vice President Ardent Miller stated that "The decision of the government not to engage with the HNLC, despite the fact that the latter has repeatedly expressed its desire to have an unconditional dialogue only shows the lack of sincerity on the part of the Government."

Statement
May 7

NS

HNLC 'publicity secretary' stated that the former State Home Minister must try find out facts regarding the criminal affiliations of Ampareen Lyngdoh and Deborah Marak.

Statement
May 18

Shillong/East Khasi Hills

Shillong Police arrested an HNLC militant identified as John Fishal Lyngkhoi and an OGW identified as Roskin Phawa from Mawlai Mawroh in Shillong in East Khasi Hills District. Preliminary interrogation indicates that Lyngkhoi was recently sent to Shillong to carry out a collection drive.

Non-Violent
May 22

NS

HNLC a 48-hour shutdown in protest over the delay in passage of the Village Administration Bill. The shutdown will be effective from May 26 to 28.

Non-Violent
May 24

NS

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal has extended the ban on HNLC for 5 more years.

Non-Violent
May 25 NS

Meghalaya has sounded an alert across the state in view of a 48-hour bandh May 26 called by HNLC. The shutdown has been called by the outfit protesting alleged delay in passing of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (Village Administration) Bill

Non-Violent

May 26 NS

Taking a hard stand against HNLC sponsored shut down and road blockade from May 27 to June 2, police stated that any 'accused' arrested in connection with the agitation will be treated as HNLC militants.

Non-Violent

May 27 Khasi-Jaintia region

Normal life came to a standstill in the State following the shutdown called by HNLC in protest over the delay in passage of the Village Administration Bill by the State Government

Non-Violent

May 29 NS

A court order stated that "We direct that the statements of HNLC or any organisation which may disturb the even tempo of day-to-day public life and shall not be issued by any of the print and electronic media,".

Statement

May 30 Ri-Bhoi

HNLC militant identified as Khrawbok Marbaniang was arrested by Police at an unspecified place in Ri-Bhoi. His arrest led to arrest of another HNLC militant identified as Belnis Thabah from a saw mill at Kyrdemkulai, in Ri-Bhoi District. One country made pistol, six 12 bore ammunitions, gun powder, one HNLC demand note and ball bearings were recovered from the militants.

Non-Violent

June 4

Mawlangsu/West Khasi hills

Also, headmaster of Laishnong Secondary School, identified as Sromwell Mawdoh who had joined HNLC as arrested from the school premises at Mawlangsu in West Khasi Hills. He was working as 'mobilisation officer' for HNLC.

Non-Violent
June 9

NS

Meghalaya Police claimed that HNLC was "desperate" to start its extortion drive. Following the arrest of HNLC cadres John Fishal Lyngkhoi and Reskin Phawa from the state capital, and six others from West Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, and East Jaintia Hills, SP Vivek Syiem said the HNLC was "desperate to try and start its extortion drive once again, but due to the co-operation of the public it has been foiled.

Statement
June 18

Mawlai Motsyiar Block-I/East Khai Hills

Two abductors claiming to be Police personnels abducted a 14-year-old boy from Mawlai Motsyiar Block-I in East Khasi Hills District and later dropped him back at his home with the warning that they would take him to Bangladesh and enroll him in HNLC.

Non-Violent
June 28

NS

HNLC alleged that they had been cheated by the State Government despite having given an offer for 'unconditional' talks.

Statement
July 31

NS

The 'political and organising secretary' of HNLC identified as Fredrick Kharmawphlang, surrendered before Sunil Kumar Jain, the Chief intelligence officer of Meghalaya Police.

Non-Violent
August 2

NS

In a statement issued to the media, HNLC "publicity secretary" Sainkupar Nongtraw stated that "We have joined hands with other stronger organisations of the Northeast to share our logistics and support our military tactics, and we shall soon co-ordinate in order to prove that we still exist and we can make an impact thereby showing our military offensive against the state police."

Statement
August 2

NS

HNLC also stated that on Frederick Kharmawphlang, who surrendered before Police on July 31 that t was his personal decision to return to the mainstream and "we do not have any qualms or complaints".

Statement
August 10

NS

UNLFWESA, CorCom, GNLA and HNLC have jointly called for total shut down in North East India from August 14 midnight till 6 pm of August 15.

Statement
August 23

NS

HNLC has sought the intervention of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, to start the peace process. In a letter addressed to Rijiju HNLC blamed Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for his alleged double standard in initiating peace talks with ANVC and ANVC-B while neglecting the HNLC.

Non-Violent
October 26 East Khasi Hills District

A hardcore militant of the HNLC, identified as Edmund Nongsiej alias Mot (35), surrendered before the Meghalaya Police in East Khasi Hills District. Nongsiej, who had joined the outfit way back in 2000, however, did not deposit any arms when he gave up to the Police.

Non-Violent
November 13

Jhalupara / East Khasi Hills District

The HNLC claimed responsibility for the blast at Jhalupara in East Khasi Hills District on November 12, even as the city Police suspect at to be an IED blast. SP, Vivek Syiem said that evidences recovered from the place of occurrence were sent to forensic experts for examination. He also said that Police were on the job though it will be premature to say anything on who was behind the incident. On the other hand, the HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw claimed that the intention of planting 'RDX' in a location like Jhalupara at late night was to avoid human casualties. "We purposely planted the RDX in such a location at late night hours in order to avoid human casualties. Our objective was to make the people realize that if we had planted the RDX at Khyndailad (downtown Shillong) during working hours, human casualties would have been far more than expected," Nongtraw said in statement. The outfit said the blast was a warning to Nepalese and other non-tribals of Shillong trying to interfere in the affairs of HNLC. "We are not against any community or religion. We respect all as human beings but they should not take it for granted. Many of our local people have been assaulted by Nepali at Langpih and elsewhere," Nongtraw said.

Non-Violent
November 16

Shillong

The HNLC threatened a city lady in Shillong directing her to remove her tenants, who according to the outfit are thieves. According to a complaint lodged by one Phersini Hynniewta, on November 12 she received a letter from HNLC which came by post where she was asked to remove her tenants. Police said a case has been registered in this connection.

Non-Violent
November 22

Shillong

The BSF provided documentary proof to its Bangladesh counterpart, BGB, of Indian insurgent groups having camps in the neighbouring country, BSF officials said in Shillong. A BSF delegation led by IG Meghalaya Frontier, Sudesh Kumar provided the documentary proof to BGB in a bilateral meeting held in Sylhet on November 18. The BSF cited that camps belonging to GNLA, ULFA, HNLC, NDFB and NLFT have camps in Bangladesh, BSF officials said. Besides insurgency, the BSF also raised the issue of FICN being printed in Bangladesh and being pushed into India by Bangladeshi nationals. "Commission of trans-border crimes like smuggling of fake Indian currency notes, forest produce and cattle theft, dacoities in Indian Territory committed by Bangladeshi nationals and criminals inside Indian Territory were also discussed during the meeting," the officials added. The BSF also discussed with its counterpart the construction of single row fence within 150 yards from the IB with the BGB officials for obtaining clearance from Bangladesh Government for the construction.

Statement
December 6 Jhalupara / East Khasi Hills District

Police are still uncertain over the outlawed HNLC's claim of having exploded a low-intensity blast at Jhalupara in East Khasi Hills District on November 12 citing that they have not arrived at any conclusion so far. "We have to verify their claims as to their alleged involvement," SP (City) Vivek Syiem said. He, however, maintained that investigation was still on. It may be reminded that the mysterious blast occurred at a bush near Jeevan Ram Goenka Memorial Hospital at around 10.30 pm of November 12 creating a crater at the blast site and partially damaging two vehicles and a road roller parked nearby. The HNLC had, later, claimed responsibility for the blast.

Non-Violent
December 17

Meghalaya

The GNLA asked for restraint from Khasi NGOs as well as the HNLC even as it claimed that abductions in Garo Hills in Meghalaya seem to be the handiwork of dacoit groups and not of any militant group."Jumping to hasty conclusions without proper information just because police has put a blame based on suspicion is uncalled for", said the GNLA publicity secretary, Gantong Marak while referring to abductions of a Khasi coal businessman from West Khasi Hills District. The abductions have led to tensions between the communities with the HNLC as well as other NGOs threatening to strike back at the Garo community. "This will create a negative assumption on our community when the fact is actually not confirmed that it is the work of Garo militants", added Marak issuing a press communiqué. "There are crooks, a mixture of all communities going about committing all kinds of crimes. So why blame only one? Many dacoits take advantage in the name of HNLC, GNLA and other militants groups, be it for abduction, extortion or killing people for ransom," he added.

Non-Violent

 

Source:Compiled from news reports and are provisional.

 

 

 

 

 
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