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Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC)
Formation
The Hynniewtrep National
Liberation Council (HNLC) is a product of a 1992 split in the Hynniewtrep
Achik Liberation Council (HALC), the first militant tribal outfit in
Meghalaya. The HALC split due to inter-tribal antagonisms leading to
the formation of the HNLC and the Achik Matgrik Liberation Army (AMLA).
In the erstwhile HALC, the Hynniewtreps (Khasis, who trace their origin
to seven celestial families) represented the Khasi and Jaintia tribes
and the Achiks represented the Garos in the common fight against the
Dkhars or ‘outsiders’. The HNLC was proscribed on November 16, 2000.
Objectives
An important objective
of the HNLC is to transform Meghalaya as a province exclusively for
the Khasi tribe and free it from ‘domination’ by the Garo tribe. Another
objective is to fight against the presence of 'outsiders', as the HNLC
feels that Khasi youth are deprived of the fruits of development in
the state.
Leadership
Julius K Dorphang is the
‘Chairman’ of the HNLC. Cheristerfield Thangkhiew functions as its ‘General
Secretary’. Among the other leaders are ‘Publicity Secretary’ M. Diengdoh,
‘Commander-in-chief’ Bobby Marwein. The HNLC ‘Operations group’ consists
of Khraw Bian, Shining Star Synkhli, Shynshar Nongbri, Bantei Kharkongor,
Raju Blah and Kynteilang Kharkongor. The top leadership of the outfit
is based in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. Some of HNLC's camps too
are located in that country, mostly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT)
region.
Chairman Julius Dorphang
surrendered to the government on July 24, 2007. This surrender was reportedly
a result of the internal differences within the organsiation. A group
of HNLC cadres was also sent by the outfit's leadership in Bangladesh
to eliminate Dorphang. An October 30, 2007 encounter in a locality in
Shillong led to the killing of five cadres of the group.
Area of Operation
The HNLC primarily operates
in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. A number of its activities has been
reported from the capital city of Shillong.
Linkages
The HNLC is closely linked
with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Issak Muivah (NSCN-IM).
HNLC's nexus with the Tripura based National Liberation Front of Tripura
(NLFT) was revealed
with the December 17, 2007 neutralisation of a joint HNLC-NLFT camp
in the Narpuh reserve forest in the Jaintia Hills district. Accoridng
to Meghalaya police souces, both the outfits have been found to be engaged
in extortion in the Jaintia Hills coal belt.
The HNLC also has a front
organisation called the HSDF (Hynniewtrep State Democratic Front), whose
‘Commander-in-Chief’ Dominic Kharpuli and three other cadres were arrested
on October 20, 2001. HNLC promotes the circulation of fake currency
in the State, at the behest of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's
external intelligence agency.
Incidents
2008
-
August 28: One HNLC militant, Lidon Syrti, surrenders
before the Border Security Force. Syrti hailed from Rattachera village
under Khlehriat police station in the Jaintia Hills district. During
interrogation he revealed that he was the body guard of the ‘commander-in
chief’ of the HNLC, Bobby Marwine..
-
August 27: One HNLC cadre, Phyrnailang
Swer, is arrested from a place in the Jaintia Hills district. He
confessed to having extorted huge amounts of money from traders
in the area. Following his confession, police recovered two Chinese
9-mm pistols and four rounds of ammunition from a place in Mankijai.
-
August 25: One HNLC cadre, Fullman Khongthohrem
alias Dum, surrenders before the Meghalaya Police in capital Shillong.
Fullman hails from Lapalang village near Dawki in the East Khasi
Hills district. He had joined the outfit in 2002 and was trained
in Chittagong Hills in Bangladesh. He has, however, not laid down
any arms.
-
August 20: One surrendered HNLC militant Tyngshain
Lyngdoh Sohďong, involved in the August 12 killing of his colleague
Kerlang Laitstep and his brother Philip Laitstep, surrenders before
the Assam Rifles.
-
August 18: One Pynhunlang Swer, claiming himself
to be an HNLC cadre, is arrested by the Meghalaya Police on for
demanding money from a trader of Jaintia Hills District. According
to police sources, Pynhunlang, along with two other accomplices,
have demanded INR 2500000 from a prominent businessman and citizen
of Shangpung area in the name of the HNLC.
-
August 17: Two HNLC cadres, including one identified
as Command Lytan alias Commando, are arrested by police from Shillong
Club for attempting to extort money from some traders. They have
demanded money from INR 300000 to INR 500000 from the traders of
Jaintia Hills.
-
August 14: The HNLC proposes to
hold talks with the Union Government on its ‘21st raising day’.
The outfit’s ‘general secretary’ Cheristerfield Thangkhiew says
that they were ready to initiate a dialogue with the Government
to end the armed struggle, provided the Government was sincere.
-
August 12: The HNLC calls for a
general strike from August 14 in Meghalaya in protest agonist the
Independence Day celebrations on August 15.
-
July 10: One surrendered NDFB militant belonging
to the Khasi tribe, identified as Jaklis Mawpniang alias Jimmy Momin,
confesses before the Meghalaya Police during his interrogation that
he was a former police constable of the first Meghalaya Police Battalion.
"Mawpniang, hailing from Umsaw village of Meghalaya's Ri Bhoi district,
deserted the battalion in 1983 to join the NDFB," an unnamed senior
police official says. Mawpniang became the NDFB 'area commander'
in Assam's Kokrajhar district and later became a trainer for the
HNLC in Chittagong Hills Tracts in Bangladesh. "According to our
information, he is the only Khasi in the NDFB outfit though there
are many Garos in the NDFB and Ulfa," the official said.
-
July 24: The HNLC said that the black flag march
of the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) to protest the abduction of its
circle president Fairshall Kongwang was a "blind experience." Denying
its involvement in the abduction and killing of the student leader,
the HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw, in a statement
to the press, stated that the KSU must understand that the surrendered
cadres and the police have hatched a 'game plan.' The student body
observed June 23 as black flag day protesting the abduction of Kongwang,
who disappeared from Shyiap, a picnic spot near the Indo-Bangladesh
border on December 16, 2007.
-
June 29 : Two HNLC militants, who infiltrate from
their hideouts in Bangladesh, are arrested from Mawkyrwat village
in the West Khasi Hills district. One revolver and five live rounds
of .22 ammunition, cellphone and incriminating documents are recovered
from their possession. Police say both the militants were sent to
India by their outfit to extort money from coal exporters and other
businessmen in the district.
-
June 12: Four surrendered cadres of the HNLC confess
that Phershal Khongwang, Dawki unit president of the Khasi Students'
Union (KSU), was abducted and later killed by HNLC cadre, Hep Khoit,
along with two of his accomplices, Bol Khonglah and Jop Lamin, in
Bangladesh in 2007. The HNLC cadres also unsuccessfully tried to
kill former Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) chief
H.S. Shylla.
-
June 6: Four HNLC cadres, who were earlier remanded
to police custody, are released for "lack of evidence". They were
arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Tripura
while entering Indian territory from Bangladesh without passport
on May 16. They later revealed that they had deserted a HNLC camp
in Bangladesh to surrender before the government.
-
May 31: Intelligence sources said that
seven former Naga insurgents, who deserted the NSCN–IM and NSCN-K,
continue to maintain links with the HNLC and LAEF to extort money
from coal exporters and other traders in the coal belts of West
Khasi Hills and Garo Hills. "The Naga men normally go back to their
State after collecting huge amount of money through extortion in
Meghalaya," the sources say. Intelligence sources also said that
former NSCN cadres involved in extortion in Meghalaya were planning
to form a new militant outfit that could be more powerful than the
NSCN-IM and NSCN-K. Many coal exporters from and outside the State
have incurred huge losses due to the ongoing extortion drive jointly
launched by cadres of the NSCN, HNLC and LAEF. Militants’ threat
is reported to have forced several coal exporters to leave the coal
belt areas recently. There are reports that the Tripura-based NLFT
was supporting the HNLC's extortion drive in the district where
coal exporters and managers of various cement plants were made to
pay money to militants.
-
May 29: Surrendered
ANVC cadres asked the Meghalaya Government to provide them with
recruitment in 5th India Reserve Battalion and monetary assistance.
They also alleged that the former State Government did not have
the commitment to rehabilitate all surrendered insurgents. They
say that the previous D.D. Lapang-led Government had given "more
importance" to the Shillong-based former cadre of the HNLC than
those from the Garo Hills. The former ANVC cadres have sought Government
jobs for at least 25 of them and financial assistance for the others
to start their own entrepreneurship.
-
May 26: Meghalaya Police
said that militants belonging to the BW, HNLC and NLFT have demanded
huge amounts of ransom from several cement companies in the Jaintia
Hills district.
-
May 21: Meghalaya Police arrests one hardcore HNLC
cadre, Banteiborlang Lyngdoh Nonglait, from the coal belt areas
at Nongjri near Borsora in the West Khasi Hills district. He was
arrested while entering the export coal depot belonging to one Control
Marbaniang. Ten live ammunitions of AK-47 are seized from his possession.
According to police sources, he had recently returned from Bangladesh
to carry out an extortion drive in the coal belt areas.
-
May 16: The HNLC says in an e-mail statement that
it has expelled four of its cadres, Heplung alias Judas, Mardor,
Baiar, Pyndap alias Morning and Raimon, for allegedly 'breaching'
the model code of conduct of the outfit.
Four HNLC cadres are arrested by the Border Security Force personnel
at Joshitilla village in the Dhalai district of Tripura along the
India-Bangladesh border. They confessed that they deserted their
camp in the Moulavibazaar district of Bangladesh following acute
shortage of food and medicine. They also mentioned that 182 HNLC
cadres are now staying in that camp.
-
April 5: One HNLC cadre, Ossomon Rynjah alias Belu,
is arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel from Andermanik
border outpost in the Mamit district while trying to cross over
to Mizoram from Bangladesh. He confessed that the HNLC has maintained
links with the Tripura-based NLFT since 2001. He also stated that
the strength of HNLC in the Bangladesh camp located under Baghachuri
police station in the Rangamati district was about 100 in 2001.
As many as 26 NLFT cadres also stayed in the HNLC camp at that time,
he added. Rynjah confessed that since most of the cadres deserted
the camp the strength has been reduced to 26, and the camp is left
with one .303 rifle. He said that he deserted the camp due to forced
labour detention and ill treatment by the HNLC commanders.
-
April 3 Meghalaya Police arrested six persons, including
rangbah shnongs (members of the traditional local-self government
institutions) and businessmen, from different parts of the Jaintia
Hills district for their suspected links with the HNLC. They were
identified as Phon Syih, Welcome Dkhar, Lambha Dhar, Susil Dkhar,
Pyntngen Bareh and Rangbahduh Khonglah. According to police sources,
they were arrested following confession of the HNLC militants who
were arrested during the recent encounter at Wahlymbong. They are
accused of giving shelter, money and other goods to the HNLC cadres.
Two arrested HNLC cadres, Willender Diengdoh Marngar and Riskin
Phawa, had reportedly collected INR 50000 from them.
-
March 30: The Superintendent of Police (Special
Branch), Claudia A. Lyngwa, while terming the HNLC as "an organisation
of a few vested interests," said that deteriorating cadre strength
of the outfit had forced it to join hands with the Tripura-based
NLFT. She stated that the outfit's cadre strength could be between
70 and 80, including a few senior members camping in Bangladesh.
"These (few) vested interests (HNLC activists) are very much aware
that they are losing their strength every day and the best option
for them is to surrender," she said, adding, "Deteriorating cadre
strength has forced HNLC to join hands with the NLFT."
-
March 27: The HNLC 'camp commander' at Chittagong
Hill Tract, Syrpailin Mawlong, is arrested at Umkiang in the Jaintia
Hills district. He confesses before police that the outfit was facing
a funds crisis and he had been asked by his leaders to carry out
an extortion drive in the Jaintia Hills. He also said that after
the surrender of former Chairman Julius Dorphang, the outfit is
yet to nominate any other leader as the chairman. He added that
100 cadres, including eight to nine women, were based in Bangladesh.
Two HNLC militants, Vicky Majaw and Leader, are shot dead by Meghalaya
Police during an encounter at Umkiang in the Jaintia Hills district.
However, three NLFT militants who along with the HNLC militants
opened fire on the police personnel manage to escape from the encounter
site. Four SBBL shot guns, two AK-56 assault rifles and 33 rounds
of live ammunition, a country-made .22 revolver, two Chinese hand
grenades and two sets of Japanese-made wireless handsets, three
torches, a mobile handset and two authorisation letters for extortion
were recovered from the encounter site. According to police sources,
the HNLC and NLFT ran a joint camp at Wahlymbong for about two months
to extort money from coal traders and businessmen of Jaintia Hills.
The encounter occurred when police raided a militant hideout in
the Umkiang area following the arrest of six HNLC militants, including
an 'area commander' Syrpailin Mawlong alias Bhalang, and a courier
Riskin Phawa, during a search operation in Malidor area and Umkiang
village on March 26. Four others were identified as Emanuel Umthlu
alias Shwa, L. Marngar alias Willinder Marngar, Aibor Sawian and
Chedrak Wanniang.
-
March 19: One HNLC militant, identified as Gedolf
Nongrem of Mawkhar, surrendered before the Border Security Force
(BSF) at the Umsyiem border outpost near Dawki. During interrogation,
Nongrem told the BSF that he, along with five others, was lured
by one HNLC activist Lungtung of Mawlai to join the banned outfit
and had undergone arms training at an HNLC camp in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
"I left for Bangladesh in June 2003 and underwent training along
with others, including eight female activists, at an HNLC camp in
Chittagong," Nongrem said.
-
March 14: The surrendered HNLC militants decide
to ask the Meghalaya Government for general amnesty. The decision
was taken at the first meeting of the surrendered militants, chaired
by its former chairman Julius Dorphang, at Mawlong. "We have decided
to urge the Centre and the state to grant general amnesty to all
the surrendered HNLC militants. We want the government to provide
a better rehabilitation package to prevent them from going astray,"
Dorphang said. There are more than 100 surrendered HNLC militants
in capital Shillong. "Most of these boys are poor and are finding
it difficult to sustain themselves," he said, adding that many of
them are yet to receive the rehabilitation package. Dorphang said.
He also refuted allegations that the surrendered HNLC militants
had campaigned for the ruling Congress party in the recently-concluded
legislative Assembly elections. "The allegations are not true. The
surrendered militants were free to support any candidate," he added.
-
February 27: Normal life in the capital Shillong
and other parts of the State was affected due to a general strike
called by the HNLC in protest against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's
State visit.
-
January 26: The HNLC calls for a 24-hour strike
in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in protest against the celebration
of the Republic Day.
-
January 24: The 'publicity secretary' of the HNLC,
Sainkupar Nongtraw, accuses some politicians of playing the 'religious
card' to win the elections. The outfit asked the church bodies to
initiate steps to prevent such activities.
2007
-
December 30: Meghalaya Police stated that Phersial
Kongwang, the Khasi Students Union's (KSU) Dawki Circle president,
was abducted and later taken to Bangladesh by the HNLC militants.
"We have thoroughly investigated the matter. We have no doubt that
HNLC men have taken the victim (Mr Kongwang) to Bangladesh," police
say. Police add that HNLC cadre, Bah Hep alias Hep Khoit, and two
other unidentified armed persons were involved in the abduction
-
. December 28: One surrendered HNLC cadre, Stephan
Rymbai, is arrested from his rented house at Salini Colony in Mihmyntdu
of Jaintia Hills district. Police said that Rymbai had been involved
in a number of crimes even after he came over-ground.
-
December 26: Meghalaya Police said that the HNLC
is being helped by the NLFT in Jaintia Hills, the NSCN-IM in West
Khasi Hills and the NDFB in areas of Ri-Bhoi district. The HNLC's
declining manpower and continued failure to start an extortion drive
in Shillong city has forced the outfit to seek help of other outfits
and extort money from businessmen, especially coal traders, in other
districts of the State bordering Bangladesh. "The firepower of HNLC
is less at present and the outfit cannot buy more weapons due to
financial constraints. It has to borrow arms from other militant
groups," said an unnamed source.
-
December 19: The surrendered ‘chairman’
of the HNLC, Julius Dorphang, said that the HNLC maintains a fleet
of boats to ferry ration and other items to its cadres at their
camps in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Dorphang also
said that since the Chittagong Hill Tracts is surrounded by deep
jungles and criss-crossed by rivers, a boat was the easiest mode
of transport. He added that most of the items were collected from
different places from where they were taken to loading points along
the Feni, Karnaphuli, Sangu (Sankhu) and Matamuhuri rivers. From
the offloading points, the ration was carried to the camps.
One HNLC cadre, who
had escaped during the December 17 police raid on the camp jointly
set up by the HNLC and NLFT inside Narpuh Reserve Forest of Jaintia
Hills, surrenders before East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police,
A.R. Mawthoh.
-
December 17 Meghalaya Police neutralizes a joint
camp of the HNLC and the NLFT during an operation at Narpuh reserve
forest in the Jaintia Hills. A number of 9-mm live cartridges, .22
live cartridges, one very high frequency handset, six micro cassettes,
a prescription of a Bangladeshi doctor, photographs, a diary and
four butts of AK-56 rifles are recovered. However, no arrests were
made.
-
December 15: Meghalaya Police stated that one suspected
HNLC militant, while trying to hijack a Jeep belonging to a coal
exporter, Milan Khongsit, was assaulted by civilians at Mawngap
in the East Khasi Hills district.
-
December 7: Nagaland Post reports that the
Meghalaya Police has launched a flush-out operation targeting HNLC
extortionists in the coal belt area.
-
December 6: Shillong Times, quoting intelligence
sources, reports that the HNLC has resumed its extortion drive in
the coal belt of Borsora in the West Khasi Hills district. The HNLC
demanded INR 500000 from coal exporters owning ten or more trucks.
Those having five and more than five trucks were asked to pay ransom
between INR 250000 to 300000.
-
November 24: Shillong Times reports that
at least eight senior cadres of the HNLC will desert their camp
in Bangladesh and come overground and surrender in protest against
the system of functioning and policy of the HNLC 'commander-in-chief'
Bobby Marwein.
-
November 19: Shillong Times reports that
the Meghalaya Police are investigating the alleged nexus between
teer (a traditional form of gambling that sustains the age-old
sport of archery) bookies and the HNLC, which reportedly helps the
militant outfit to strengthen its coffer. After a gap of four years,
Meghalaya Police have reopened the file related to the teer bookies-HNLC
nexus. Police had unearthed the nexus between teer bookies
and HNLC in 2003 and arrested some office bearers of the Archery
Sports Association. Four years later, the file, in this regard,
was reopened following the encounter on October 30 at Cleve Colony
in which five HNLC militants were killed. Manbha Rynjah, one of
the slain militants, was a teer bookie and contractor.
-
November 11: Meghalaya Police said that the NDFB
has continued to help the HNLC since 2005 by supplying weapons to
the outfit. They claimed that the HNLC militants, who are camping
in Paham-Umdoh forest, maintain links with the NDFB. An unnamed
senior police official stated: "NDFB leaders used to make periodic
visits to the make-shift camps of the HNLC in the Ri-Bhoi district".
.
-
November 7: Deputy Superintendent of Police Raymond
P. Diengdoh was killed when a team of police personal attacked a
HNLC hideout at Paham Umdoh forest near Byrnihat in the Ri-Bhoi
district. One militant, identified as Salin alias Jockey, of Mawsynram
in the East Khasi Hills district, was also killed in the encounter.
Police arrested two HNLC cadres, Sharailang Raiwan and Andy Lyngdoh,
from the encounter site. Two Kalashnikov rifles, a pistol and some
cartridges are recovered from the incident site.
-
November 6: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District
Council (KHADC) chief, H.S. Shylla, accuses the non governmental
organisations and a political party of having nexus with the HNLC.
The KHADC chief accused the Khasi Students’ Union, the Federation
of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People and Khun Hynniewtrep National
Awakening Movement party of having a nexus with the outfit.
-
November 4: Meghalaya Police stated that the HNLC
is using women as agents to extort money from places where the finance
wing of the organisation fails to penetrate. "Even after the arrest
of a few women who worked for the HNLC in the past, some women are
still helping the outfit in collecting money in Shillong and Dawki
in Jaintia Hills," a senior unnamed police official disclosed. He
said that before going on an extortion drive, the women make ‘missed
calls’ to top HNLC leaders based in Bangladesh, who help them with
ways and means to negotiate the amount. A prepaid mobile phone having
a balance of INR 800 to INR 900 is used by the women to send "missed
calls" to Bangladesh. The report adds that the arrest of a woman,
Velvet Rose Jana, who accompanied HNLC militants to assassinate
HS Shylla, the Chief Executive Member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous
District Council, in August 20074, has revealed that she had extorted
money on behalf of the outfit from businessmen. She confesses to
have worked in tandem with her husband, Tome Jones Rynjah, to spread
the activities of the HNLC, including extortion in Shillong. Police
had arrested the couple from Mawlai Syllaikriah locality of Shillong
for their role in leading the HNLC cadres to the house of Shylla.
According to A.R. Mawthoh, the Superintendent of Police of the East
Khasi Hills district, the HNLC courier recently sent INR 400, 000
to Bobby Marwein, ‘commander-in-chief’ of the outfit, who is based
in Bangladesh.
October 30: Five HNLC militants, one of them identified
as Safir Hashah, are shot dead by police personnel during an encounter
at Cleave Colony under Laitumkhrah police station in the East Khasi
Hills district. The incident occurs when a police team tries to
intercept a vehicle carrying the militants. Two police personnel
are also injured in the exchange of fire. An AK-47 rifle, a double
barrel gun, a single barrel gun, one grenade and some ammunition
are recovered from the slain militants. The East Khasi Hills district
Superintendent of Police, A.R. Mawthoh, informs that the militants
entered Meghalaya from Bangladesh to kill the outfit's surrendered
chairman, Julius Dorphang.
-
October 29: One courier of the HNLC, Rimen Rymbai,
is arrested by police personnel at Dawki in the Jaintia Hills District.
Rymbai was sent by his seniors from Bangladesh to collect the demanded
amount from a prominent businessman of Dawki. Sources add that Rymbai
hails from Lamapunji under Gowainghat police station in the Sylhet
district of Bangladesh.
-
October 29: Two HNLC cadres, Rajesh Lamin and Lyli
Lamin, surrender before the East Khasi Hills district-Superintendent
of Police.
-
October 17: Meghalaya Police chief, B.K. Dey Sawian,
said that the HNLC is carrying out an extortion drive at Laitumkhrah
and Nongthymmai areas in capital Shillong. He also stated that though
the cadre strength of the HNLC is reducing, the possibility of the
outfit's cadres regrouping cannot be ruled out.
-
September 11: Two persons, identified as Wanwarting
Pathaw alias Perry and Suk Nongrang, are arrested from Nongmynsong
in capital Shillong. They are involved in the September 9-abduction
of John Alex Dohkrud, the brother of a surrendered HNLC cadre Amos
Dohkrud, from Lad Mawlai Motsyiar.
-
August 24: Meghalaya Police arrest the mother of
Bobby Marwein, the 'commander-in-chief of HNLC, from an unspecified
place in the East Khasi Hills district. Superintendent of Police
A.R. Mawthoh said, "The police are investigating the involvement
of Marwein's mother, wife and Thangkhiew's sister in the extortion
racket."
-
August 23: Police arrests the sister of Cherishstarfield
Thangkhiew, 'general secretary' of the HNLC, and wife of Bobby Marwein,
'commander-in-chief'' of the same outfit, for their involvement
in extortion at Jaiaw Langsning in the East Khasi Hills district.
-
August 22: Police arrest a HNLC cadre, identified
as Phrangsngi Hahshah, from Motphran in the East Khasi Hills district.
He is suspected to be the linkman behind the extortion drive of
the outfit.
-
August 21: Five HNLC cadres, while extorting from
traders, are arrested at Dawki in the Jaintia Hills District. They
were identified as Ispon Khonglah, Donbok Kongwang, Teiborlang Kongwang,
Dominic Rangjem and Wansalan Khonglah.
-
August 21: Four suspected HNLC cadres
are arrested from various parts of the capital Shillong. They came
from Bangladesh recently to carry out an extortion drive.
-
August 16: One senior HNLC cadre,
Aral Mango alias Heh, surrenders before the Ri-Bhoi district Superintendent
of Police J. Rymmai. Heh was reportedly a linkman between the HNLC
and NDFB.
-
August 15: The HNLC expresses its
willingness to sit for tripartite talks involving both the Union
and State governments. 'General Secretary' Cheristerfield Thangkhiew
said in a statement on the 20th raising day of the HNLC that the
group was keen to end bloodshed and is willing to sit for talks.
-
August 12: The HNLC
calls for a 24-hour bandh (strike) from August 14 in protest
against the Independence Day celebrations on August 15. A statement
issued by the outlawed group’s ‘publicity secretary’ Sainkupar Nongtraw
said that it would continue its "20-year-old armed struggle for
political and socio-economic development of the people". The strike
exempts patients and hospital attendants and milkmen from its purview.
-
August 6: The HNLC
‘publicity secretary’ Sainkupar Nongtraw alleged that ‘chairman’
Julius Dorphang, who had recently surrendered, had been bought over
by Chief Minister D. D. Lapang. A statement said that by coming
over-ground, Dorphang had undermined his own position as a top leader
of the outfit. "Dorphang must know the kind of action that the HNLC
would take against deserters who took away its properties," the
HNLC statement added. It also said that by surrendering, Dorphang
had ‘stabbed the HNLC from the back’. The HNLC also said that Dorphang
is earlier authorized by the outfit's leadership to speak to Lapang
over phone regarding the peace initiative "but the outfit did
not expect that he would be bought over by Lapang to the extent
that he deserted his own colleagues."
-
August 3: A surrendered
HNLC cadre, Bitkhotal Khongkip, who disrupted the Elector's Photo
Identity Card programme at Nongskhen village in the East Khasi Hills
district on July 30, is arrested by the police from an unspecified
location.
-
August 2: The surrendered
‘Chairman’' of the HNLC, Julius Dorphang, has decided to resign
from the top post of the group. He admitted that personality conflicts
among the top HNLC leaders had eroded the image of the group. Dorphang,
however, denied the allegations made by the HNLC of taking away
INR 20 million before his surrender and also rejected other charges
of selling weapons and assets of the outfit.
-
August 1: The Deputy
Commissioner of the East Khasi Hills district, Bhalang Dhar, ordered
the police to arrest surrendered HNLC cadre, Bitkophal Khongkip,
for his alleged misbehaviour with the Election department officials
during an electorate photo identity card programme at Nongskhen
in the East Khasi Hills district.
The HNLC ‘publicity
secretary’, Sainkupar Nongtraw, in a press statement alleged that
the surrendered chairman of the group, Julius Dorphang, has decamped
with the outfit's money amounting to INR 20 million. He added that
Dorphang has sold away properties of the organization, including
the arms of his security personnel. The statement also denied Dorphang's
claim that the HNLC general secretary and 'Commander-in-Chief' did
not understand the meaning of peace.
-
July 24: Julius K. Dorphang, chairman
of the outlawed HNLC, along with his four bodyguards, identified
as Teilang Wanniang, Salonsar Thongni, Bima Suting and Rit Lakashiang,
surrendered to the security forces at an unspecified location in
the capital city of Shillong. Dorphang accepted an offer of safe
passage from the State Government and decided to join the mainstream,
indicating a major setback to the Khasi outfit formed in 1988. However,
no weapon is deposited by the HNLC cadres. Dorphang and the four
cadres arrived in Shillong on July 23-night by road through Lyngkhat
village near the India-Bangladesh border under tight police security.
-
May 28: One HNLC cadre, identified
as Trustman Roy Lyngdoh Nonglait belonging to the Mawlai Kynton
Massar area, surrendered before the police at an unspecified location.
-
May 23: The Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Tribunal extended the ban on the ANVC and HNLC for
two more years due to their continued anti-national and anti-social
activities. The new order will remain in force till May 15, 2009.
-
May 17: One Hynniewtrep National
Liberation Council (HNLC) cadre, identified as 'sergeant major'
Andy Roy Lartang alias Bahdeng, surrendered to the security forces
at an unspecified location.
-
May 7: Two surrendered HNLC cadres,
Mayborn Rapthap and Victor Rumnong, are booked under the Meghalaya
Prevention Detention Act for their suspected involvement in cases
of abduction and murder.
A woman cadre of the HNLC, identified
as Lanosha Kharkulia, surrenders before A.R. Mawthoh, the Superintendent
of Police of East Khasi Hills district.
-
April 14: Six HNLC cadres, identified
as Kitbakmar Baniang, Amos Khamnaior, Teidur Kharsahnoh, Orrissal
Ynsatlang, Ricky Kharjana and his wife Baitbianglen, surrender before
the Border Security Force at Panisagar in the North Tripura district
of Tripura.
The two-day meeting of the Tribunal
to look into the ban on the HNLC and ANVC concludes. Official sources
said that there was no representation from the HNLC and only the
ANVC contested the case aiming at lifting the proscription.
-
April 12: Three surrendered HNLC
cadres, Khainborlang Kharwaniang, Mayborn Rapthap and Victor Rumnong,
were arrested from different parts of the Shillong city in connection
with the abduction of six persons on February 22.
-
February 20: Two HNLC cadres, Lord Canning Thongni
and Everywell Leroy, who surrendered in Shillong confessed that
they used to hand over the extortion money to a Bangladeshi national,
Abdus Salam. Police suspect that the top HNLC leaders are using
Bangladeshi nationals as couriers to bring extortion money, since
they had lost faith in the lower rung cadres. Superintendent of
Police of the East Khasi Hills district, A. R. Mawthoh, disclosed
that around 130 militants had so far surrendered in East Khasi Hills.
"More and more cadres are leaving the outfit as the extorted money
has been pocketed by the top leaders," Mawthoh added.
-
February 10: Nine HNLC militants, including its
senior leader Herman Pakyntein, surrender along with a rifle and
two shot guns at Panisagar in the North Tripura district of Tripura.
They escaped from their hideout in Bangladesh. According to police
sources, the present cadre strength of the HNLC is estimated to
be around 60 to 70, following the surrender.
-
January 2: A court in the East Khasi Hills district
remands a former HNLC cadre, Samborlang Kharlyngdoh, to three-day
police custody. Jhalupara police arrested him a day earlier for
illegally possessing a 9-mm pistol along with six rounds of ammunition.
2006
-
December 25: An extortionist, Asuk Amyrsong, is
arrested from Kharkhana village in the Jaintia Hills district along
the India-Bangladesh border. However, two others manage to escape.
They reportedly served extortion notes of INR 25,000 to a lady,
Mala Pohlong, in the guise of HNLC cadres.
-
December 20: One HNLC cadre, Aimos Khonglaban, surrenders
at Pynursla police station in the East Khasi Hills district.
-
November 27: A HNLC cadre, Tensing Khonglah, surrenders
before the Superintendent of Police of Shillong City. According
to police sources, Khonglah was operating from Sanatula near Silchar
in the Cachar district of Assam.
-
November 20: Responding to the offer made by the
HNLC for peace talks with the Union Government, the Meghalaya Home
Minister, Robert G. Lyngdoh, stated that the State Government should
be involved in the peace talks "so that it won't be held responsible
for any failure in the process." "We are ready to hold talks at
any moment and our door for negotiation is always open. But the
talks should be a tripartite one like what was done with the ANVC,"
he added.
-
November 9: The Union Government extends the proscription
on HNLC.
-
October 31: HNLC has started setting up camps at
Block I in the Karbi Anlong district of Assam. Reports added that
five hardcore cadres belonging to the "Action Group (Army Wing)"
of the outfit set up a camp in Assam.
-
October 4: A senior HNLC cadre, Mon Pohrmen, who
was the 'commander' of the camp at Panai in Bangladesh, surrenders
before Meghalaya Police at Jowai in the Jaintia Hills district.
He deposits some sample demand notes before the police.
-
September 28: A HNLC cadre, Dap Singh Ritshong alias
Syrpai, surrenders before the Meghalaya Police at an unspecified
place.
-
September 25: Meghalaya Police recover dead bodies
of two former HNLC cadres, Philio Hashah and his brother Anthony
Hashah, from Wah Khri near Mairang in the West Khasi Hills district.
They were killed en route to appear in the district court for a
pending case relating to their earlier linkages with the HNLC.
-
September 25: Meghalaya Police arrests a HNLC cadre,
Tom Jones Rynjah, from Mawlai Syllaikriah in the capital Shillong,
and seizes some incriminating documents from his possession.
-
September 20: A HNLC cadre, Krinding Lyngdoh, surrenders
before the Meghalaya Police at an unspecified location. According
to police sources, the surrendered militant, who confessed to having
recently returned from Bangladesh, did not deposit any arms.
-
September 20: Meghalaya Police kills a HNLC cadre,
Bankit Khonjee, and arrests another during an encounter at Umkrem
in the East Khasi Hills district. A modified sten gun of 9 mm caliber,
one 9 mm carbine, 40 rounds of ammunition and eight empty cases
of assorted ammunition are recovered from the incident site. Following
the incident, one surrendered HNLC cadre is also arrested for sheltering
the HNLC cadres.
-
September 10: The Union Government authorises the
Meghalaya Government to directly negotiate with the HNLC. Meanwhile,
State Chief Minister J. D. Rymbai and Home Minister R. G. Lyngdoh
ask the cadres of the outfit to give up arms and return to the mainstream.
-
August 30: Disillusioned women cadres
of the HNLC, who are in an isolated camp in Bangladesh and are desperate
to leave the outfit to join the main stream, are reportedly being
prevented from deserting the militant camp. At least eight women
cadres, including six from Shillong and West Khasi Hills and two
from Pynursla in East Khasi Hills, have remained in Bangladesh,
according to police sources. "But they are prevented by their top
leaders," police say.
-
July 15: A HNLC cadre,
Diam Salon, surrenders at Jowai police station in the Jaintia Hills
district. The surrendered militant escaped from his camp in Bangladesh.
-
July 6: At least 435
HNLC cadres were killed, surrendered or arrested by the police personnel
so far, says Inspector General of Police, B. L. Buam. Out of the
total, 289 were arrested, 27 died in encounters, while 119 surrendered.
-
June 29: At least three
HNLC militants, including one of their leaders identified as Khrawbor
Lartang alias Kordor, Lumbor Nongneng alias Pdit and Precious Star
Lamare alias Kos, surrender before the East Khasi Hills district
police in Shillong, the State capital.
-
June 25: At least ten
HNLC cadres, who surrender in the North Tripura district of Tripura
on June 21, are brought back and remanded to ten-day police custody
at Shillong, the State capital.
-
june 23: Two unidentified
HNLC cadres are shot dead in an encounter with the police at Nonghyllam
near Nongjri village in the West Khasi Hills district. While another
militant manages to escape, one carbine, one pistol and few rounds
of ammunitions are recovered from the encounter site. According
to intelligence reports, the HNLC militants infiltrated into the
Indian territory from Bangladesh.
-
June 21: At least ten
HNLC cadres, including a senior leader, surrender before the Border
Security Force personnel at an unspecified place in the North Tripura
district of Tripura. The surrendered militants, who desert their
camp in Bangladesh, were identified as West Syngkli, Bamut-lang
Chyne, Coverland Lar-tang, Oswald Nengnong, Erest Wanshnong, George
Tang-sang, Peter Kharmawphlang, Fullmoon Nongsiej, Shemphang Syiem-iong
and Larsemson Jala.
-
June 19: Two suspected
HNLC cadres, Minot and Tensing, are arrested at an unspecified place
under Halidayganj police station in the Dhubri district along the
India-Bangladesh border, while infiltrating.
-
June 15: Two HNLC cadres, Minit Lang
and Tensing Khngla, are arrested by the BSF personnel near Makamtilla
under Patherkandi block in the Karimganj district while crossing
the India- Bangladesh border. Both reportedly were trying to reach
the Khasi hills of Meghalaya through the adjoining Cachar district.
They reveal during interrogation that most militant outfits with
camps in Bangladesh are planning to push in more cadres to the Indian
territory through the border during the monsoon.
-
June 2: A HNLC cadre, Tibor Dkhar alias
Ban, who left his hideout at Puthisara in Bangladesh, surrenders
at Shillong before the Superintendent of Police of the East Khasi
Hills district. An AK 47 rifle, suspected to be abandoned by the
HNLC cadres, is recovered from the forest area of the North-Eastern
Hill University near Mawlai.
-
May 31: The HNLC threatens against
persons participating in the forthcoming Municipal elections at
Shillong, the State capital. The outfit also expresses 'concern'
about ongoing influx into the Jaintia Hills.
-
May 24: The MHA asks for the estimation
of assets of the top leaders of the Hynniewtrep HNLC including its
'chairman' Julius K Dorphang, 'general secretary' Cherishsterfield
Thangkhiew and self-styled 'Commander -in-Chief" Bobby Marwein.
Official sources say that the MHA is also assessing the activities
of the outfit to ensure that it does not indulge in extortion from
the businessmen.
-
May 1 : Chief Minister D. D. Lapang
says that the proposal for peace talks with the HNLC is a better
option than seeing the outfit members surrendering. Lapang, while
expressing the State Government's willingness to hold talks with
the militant outfits, said, "There is nothing to hide and it
is true that I had a telephonic conservation with HNLC Chairman
Julius Dorphang on the issues related to peace talks."
-
April 30 : The Meghalaya Home Department
says that insincerity of the 'commander-in-chief' of the HNLC is
the main reason for the State Government delaying the peace process.
According to Home Department sources, "We have no doubt about
the sincerity of the outfit's chairman Julius K Dorphang; but we
have got some doubts about Bobby Marwein, who often indulges in
illegal activities despite making the initial move for peace process."
The sources add that the Union and State Governments are keen to
have a cease-fire with the banned outfit, but given the present
situation, "both are of the view that the process should be
re-examined before arriving at any decision".
-
April 27: The Chief Executive Member
of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, H. S. Shylla, criticizes
the threat of the HNLC to pull out of the proposed peace talks with
the Meghalaya Government in protest against the latter's permission
for Uranium mining at Domiasiat in the West Khasi Hills district.
-
March 27: Meghalaya Chief Minister
D.D. Lapang, while responding to the issue of negotiations with
militant outfits, informs the Legislative Assembly that a "Joint
Monitoring Group (JMG) has been formed to monitor the cease-fire
with the ANVC. The next JMG meeting will be held on April 5 in Guwahati,
said, while adding that, "We are thinking of adopting similar pattern
as the first step to initiate dialogue with HNLC."
-
March 27: A former HNLC cadre, Aibor
Marwein, is shot at and wounded at Mawlai Nongkwar Block III in
the Shillong city. Marwein was arrested in 2002 while being an active
HNLC cadre.
-
March 24: The Union Home Minister Shivraj
Patil, while responding at Shillong to the issue of the reported
willingness of the proscribed HNLC to negotiate with the Government,
says, "Doors are open for dialogue with any militant group."
-
March 21: An HNLC cadre, Khrawkupar
Shylla alias Khro, is arrested from Mawlai Nongk-war in the East
Khasi Hills district. He confesses about the involvement of HNLC
in arms smuggling in Meghalaya.
-
March 17: Meghalaya Director General
Police, W.R. Marbaniang, says that an unspecified number of misguided
youths from West Khasi Hills and other areas have joined the banned
HNLC.
-
February 21: The Jaintia Hills district
police arrest three HNLC cadres, Arwat Kharumnuid alias Jo Swer,
Robert Jiteng alias Bah Bah and Khlainbor Pakyntein alias Heprit,
from a camp of coal miners at Jaliaphet. However, two of them subsequently
escaped from police custody.
-
February 21: The Church leader, Rev.
Basaiawmoit, who was appointed by the State Government to broker
peace with the HNLC, establishes contacts with the top leaders of
the proscribed outfit and intimates about the Government's desire
to have a dialogue with them. He says, "Today (Tuesday) evening,
I conveyed the HNLC leadership the outcome of my meeting with the
Chief Minister and the State Home Minister."
-
February 18: A HNLC cadre, Pynshngaińlang
Lyngdoh Mairang, surrenders before Mairang Police in the West Khasi
Hills district.
-
February 3: A suspected HNLC cadre,
who is arrested from Jowai in the Jaintia Hills district, manages
to escape during an accident involving the security convoy carrying
him near Mawryngkneng.
-
January 30: Hardcore HNLC militants
take shelter in the Block-I areas along the Assam-Meghalaya border
for raising funds for the outfit. The militants have reportedly
sneaked into the State from Bangladesh for revitalising the outfit.
A militant, Hopeborn Shangpliang, who has surrendered during the
second week of January, confesses to have regrouped the militants
in the Jaintia Hills district for extortion from the coal traders.
A senior police officer says, “The HNLC militants chose Block-I
as their area of operation so that the Meghalaya police would not
be able to know about their movements.”
-
January 20: A HNLC militant, Hopeborn
Shangpliang, surrenders before police personnel at Jowai in the
Jaintia Hills district. He deposits a 9mm pistol and 10 rounds of
live ammunition. Police sources say that the militant, a self-style
sergeant of the outfit, had joined the HNLC in 1999. He left the
outfit’s camp in Bangladesh in 2005 and since then has been operating
from Psiar in Block I area of the Jaintia Hills district.
-
January 16: The ‘publicity secretary'
of the HNLC, Sainkupar Nongtraw, expresses doubts over the seriousness
of the Meghalaya Government in dealing with the issue of illegal
migrants. Nongtraw claims that the action of the State police in
flushing out illegal immigrants as published in newspapers is "an
eyewash" and a "fashion show". He further says: “If the State and
the Central governments had the responsibility to flush out immigrants
who have illegally entered the State, why they took 34 years to
initiate measures. May be it is the government which has provided
them with land, houses, jobs and at the same time recognised them
as the legal immigrants settled in Umpling, Pynthor, Mawprem and
other localities of Shillong".
January 8: A senior HNLC cadre,
Bashembha Pathaw, is arrested from Psiar village on the Meghalaya-Assam
border in the Jaintia Hills district. Ten AK-47 ammunition are recovered
from his possession.
2005
-
December 23: Meghalaya Police arrests
‘vice-chairman’ of the HNLC, Teilang Thangkhiew, from a hideout
at Pohkseh in the capital Shillong. Police sources say that Thangkhiew
returned from Bangladesh a few days back to revitalise the outfit
following the arrest and surrender of more than hundred cadres during
the recent years.
-
December 2: Church leader, Rev. Basaiawmoit,
says that the proscribed HNLC is awaiting an official response either
from the Prime Minister's Office or the Union Home Ministry to initiate
peace talks. "After proper consultation with the Home Ministry officials
I created a channel through which the HNLC was immediately contacted
with the hope of ending the decade-long insurgency problem and bring
peace and normalcy back to the Khasi-Jaintia Hills and the State
as a whole. I have communicated HNLC's views to the Centre but the
latter is yet to respond to it", he says.
-
November 3: HNLC is reported to be
involved in extortion activities targeting coal traders of the Jaintia
Hills district. The police arrest two persons, president of the
Meghalaya Transporters and Suppliers Union, Jamrist Rymbai, and
his colleague, Chamik Nongpluh, from Lad Rymbai for their connivance
with the outfit’s extortion activities. Police sources say that
the arrested persons have served an extortion note of Rupees 16
lakh (INR) on a coal merchant on behalf of the outfit.
-
November 1: The proscribed HNLC, in
an e-mail to the local media in Meghalaya’s capital Shillong, refutes
reports that speculate the surrender of the outfit’s ‘commander-in-chief’
Bobby Marwein and some other cadres. The ‘publicity secretary’ of
the outfit, Sainkupar Nongkhlaw, says, "There are forces who want
to create cracks in our organization and the reports are at their
instance… Reports about our c-in-c’s surrender is part of the propaganda
waged by the forces against the council."
-
September 27: Julius K Dorphang, 'chairman'
of the HNLC, expresses his keenness for peace talks with the Union
Government. The surrendered 'publicity secretary' of the outfit,
Mihsalan Kynjing, says that HNLC has made some attempts in the past
to initiate peace talks and some members of the group have reportedly
met officials of the Union Home Ministry in 2004.
-
July 27: The surrendered ‘finance secretary’
of the HNLC, Yitjanai Sunn alias Iainehskhem Shylla, reports that
200 HNLC cadres, including 10 women, presently camping in Bangladesh,
are in a state of disarray. He also claims that the outfit is going
through a major financial crisis and at present it has only Rupees
20 lakh in its coffers. He also says that 20 cadres have become
victims of fratricidal clashes in Bangladesh and five to six of
them died due to malaria. He also confirms that there is a tie-up
between the HNLC and NDFB.
-
July 25: Six HNLC cadres, including
the outfit’s Finance Secretary Yit Sun alias Iaineh Skhem Shylla,
surrender before the police in Shillong. The others are identified
as Donald Wann alias Lumlang from Jaiaw Mawbynna, Elvin alias Treng
Saw from Mawlai Syllaikariah, Kohbah from Mawlai Mawtawar, Hamar
Ropmay alias Hep Tatoo from Mawlai Nongpdeng and Phyrnai Nongrum
alias Bahlieh from Mawlai Umjaiur. The HNLC, however, in a statement
issued by ‘Information Secretary’ Mangkara Dkhar claims that the
six have "deserted" its temporary camp. It also charges them with
indulging in misuse of power, stealing of official property and
violating the principles of the outfit.
-
July 22: The police arrest a surrendered
cadre of the HNLC, James Sylliang, from Mawlai in the capital Shillong.
According to police sources, Sylliang is arrested after complaints
are lodged against him for involvement in criminal activities, including
extortion.
-
July 12: Meghalaya Police says that
HNLC leaders are living safely in Bangladesh and are also involved
in business activities in that country. The East Khasi Hills district
Superintendent of Police, A. S. Rynjah, says, “They (leaders of
the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) militant
outfit), are living in safe rented houses in Dhaka, Maulavi Bazar
and Panai areas." Citing intelligence inputs, he further said that
insurgent leaders are also engaged in business activities by acquiring
farms of betel nuts, betel and arecanut in the border villages.
-
July 11: Meghalaya Police rescues a
trader, Mainak Dey, who was abducted two days earlier from Lawbah
village in the East Khasi Hills district. Official sources said
that subsequent to an encounter with HNLC cadres, he was rescued.
An unidentified HNLC cadre is killed in the encounter and another
is arrested while four others manage to escape. One rifle, one shotgun,
one country-made pistol, one hand grenade and some incriminating
documents are recovered from the incident site.
-
June 29: Unknown assailants kill a
surrendered HNLC militant, Oli Syiemlieh, near Mawsynram in the
East Khasi Hills district. The victim was missing since June 27
and his body with several injuries was recovered from a forest area
in Nongtrai.
-
June 21: A hardcore HNLC cadre, Forekest
Hahshah, surrenders before the Superintendent of Police of West
Khasi Hills district at Nongstoin. According to official sources,
Hahshah has fled form his camp in Bangladesh recently.
-
June 11: A group of unidentified gunmen
kill a surrendered HNLC cadre, identified as Pyngtngenlang Tariang
alias Bah Bah Panai, near Umkrem village in the East Khasi Hills
district. The dead body of Tariang is recovered on the next day.
-
June 3: Meghalaya Chief Minister, D.
D. Lapang, assures all possible help to Church leader P. B. M. Basiawmoit
in his efforts to bring the HNLC to the negotiating table. The Chief
Minister says, "We appreciate and admire the move of Mr Basiawmoit
and the government will extend all possible helps for him." Lapang
further indicates that he has requested the Union Government to
speed up the process with the HNLC.
-
May 25: Suspected HNLC and NDFB cadres
abduct a trader from Moosyiem village in the Jaintia Hills district.
They also shot at and injured the trader’s brother before escaping.
-
April 27: A HNLC cadre belonging to
the ‘finance wing’ of the outfit, identified as Teiskhem Sun, is
arrested from the Mawlai area. Subsequent to information provided
by Sun, police recover an AK-47 rifle along with 30 rounds of ammunition
from a forest area near Umsning in the Ri-Bhoi district.
-
April 26: Two HNLC cadres belonging
to the ‘finance wing’ of the outfit, identified as David Mylliem
Umlong and Golden Pathaw, are arrested from the Lewduh and Mawlai
Umjaipur areas respectively.
-
March 30: HNLC approaches the Union
Government for peace talks and in this regard, sends four cadres
of the outfit to New Delhi to initiate the peace process. Confirming
this, State Home Minister, Mukul Sangma says, "We are expecting
some positive outcome regarding the latest development. Details
will be made available at the right time."
-
March 30: A tribunal makes recommendations
for the extension of the proscription on the HNLC and ANVC for another
year.
-
March 28: Bangla Dhar alias Biang,
a senior HNLC cadre, allegedly involved in extortion activities
in Dawki and other border areas, surrenders before the Superintendent
of Police of East Khasi Hills district.
-
March 25: Suspected HNLC cadres abduct
Man Bahadur Pradhan, manager of a coal export firm of Sutnga in
the Jaintia Hills district.
-
February 16: An unidentified ‘area
commander’ of the HNLC is lynched by villagers of Sohkynphor in
the Jaintia Hills district. He was allegedly involved in extortion
activities in the area.
-
January 30: A suspected HNLC cadre
is arrested at Jowai in the Jaintia Hills district.
-
January 24: An eight-member group suspected
to be linked to the HNLC loot Rupees 93 lakh from the Meghalaya
Co-operative Apex Bank branch at Khliehriat in Jaintia Hills district.
The Meghalaya Director-General of Police, L. Sailo, confirming the
link between the group and the HNLC says, "They owe allegiance to
the HNLC in some form or the other."
-
January 14: Meghalaya Police arrests
a HNLC militant, Kobarlan Snaitang, from Pyndensohsaw near Mawsynram
in the East Khasi Hills district.
-
January 7: Seven HNLC cadres, who surrendered
before the Border Security Force authorities at an unspecified place
in the State of Mizoram, are likely to be brought back to Shillong
on January 8.
2004
-
December 22: The Union Government extends
the ban on two militant outfits of Meghalaya, the ANVC and HNLC.
In an official notification in Shillong, the Union Home Ministry
cites the reasons for extension stating that although the ANVC agrees
to abjure violence and expresses willingness for talks within the
framework of Constitution, it continues "collection of funds and
extortion, acquisition of sophisticated weapons and recruitment
of new cadre." For HNLC, the notification says, it openly declares
its "secessionist" objective, engaged in armed means to achieve
the objective, indulged in intimidation, extortion and looting of
civilians for collection of funds for the organisation. Both the
outfits, according to the notification, maintain links with other
insurgent groups of the North-east region for collecting weapons,
carrying out violence, extortion, intimidation and looting besides
having camps in some neighbouring countries for "sanctuary, training
and clandestine procurement of arms and ammunition."
-
December 19: Two surrendered HNLC cadres,
Barlin Kharnoir and Firestar Rapsang, are arrested on charges of
car-lifting from the Bara Bazaar area of capital Shillong.
-
December 15: A HNLC cadre, Spurfield
Suting alias Phlex, surrenders before the police at Borsora in the
West Khasi Hills district.
-
December 13: A hardcore HNLC cadre,
Deningstar Rapsang, surrenders before the Meghalaya Home Minister,
H.D.R Lyngdoh. He deposits one AK-56 rifle along with three magazines,
one M-20 pistol and another 73 rounds of live ammunition. According
to police sources, the outfit’s ‘commander-in-chief’, Bobby Marwein,
deputed Rapsang to raise extortion money from the capital Shillong.
-
December 10: HNLC blames its surrendered
cadres for the killing of five HNLC activists in its Bangladesh
camps. A statement issued by its ‘secretary of information and communication’,
Mangkara Dkhar, said: "Such policy by the authorities would lead
to problems in bringing peace in the State."
-
November 17: Meghalaya Police arrests
a senior HNLC cadre from Pyndensohsaw near Mawsynram in the East
Khasi Hills district.
-
November 4: Four extortionists with
alleged links with HNLC arrested in the capital city of Shillong.
-
October 15: A security guard of the
HNLC 'General Secretary' C Thangkhiew surrenders before the police
at Pynursla outpost in East Khasi Hills district along with two
hand grenades and one SBBL gun.
-
October 1: HNLC terrorists shot at
a taxi driver at Cheruphi in Jaintia Hills district.
-
September 29: Police arrest three suspected
HNLC cadres, who claimed to be members of the newly formed Hynniewtrep
National Youth Front Tiger Force, from Ladthalaboh in Jaintia Hills
district.
-
September 16: Security forces arrest
an HNLC cadre, Shanbor Warjri, from the Mawlai Mawdatbaki area in
the capital city of Shillong.
-
September 3: A HNLC cadre surrenders
to the police at Jowai in the Jaintia Hills district.
-
August 30: Police recovers 10 rounds
of AK ammunition from the house of a HNLC cadre at Mawlai Motsyiar
in the capital city of Shillong.
-
August 30: A HNLC cadre, identified
as Khlainbor Pakyntein, is arrested from Mawlai Motsyiar in the
East Khasi Hills district.
-
August 29: Unknown miscreants damage
the vehicle of a surrendered HNLC cadre at Jaiaw Langsning in Shillong.
-
August 24: A HNLC terrorist, identified
as Sadelbert Thongni, surrenders before the police at Nongstoin
in the West Khasi Hills district.
-
August 3: Twenty-eight HNLC militants
surrender before Chief Minister D. D. Lapang in Shillong.
-
June 28: Meghalaya Police arrests three
HNLC terrorists who crossed over to Meghalaya from the West Khasi
Hills border of Bangladesh to extort money from coal exporters of
the Borosora area in the State.
-
May 18: Five HNLC cadres surrender
in Mizoram before the Border Security Force.
- May 3: Reports indicate that the HNLC
charges its surrendered cadres for extorting money from the people
in the name of the outfit in collusion with the State police.
- March 31: A surrendered HNLC terrorist,
identified as Ibor Marwein, is arrested from the Khasi Hills Autonomous
District Council office in Shillong along with one .9 mm pistol and
some ammunition.
- January 14: Fourteen HNLC cadres surrender
before the Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang in Shillong.
2003
- October 15: HNLC ‘publicity wing’ chief,
Edward Charles Synder, is arrested, from a cyber café in the
capital Shillong.
- October 1: Meghalaya Police arrests
three HNLC terrorists from a hideout near Umium River in the East
Khasi Hills district.
- September 27: HNLC ‘commander-in-chief
(Western Command), Delphinus Myrthong alias Khraw is killed during
an encounter near Nongstoin in the West Khasi Hills district.
- September 24: Meghalaya Chief Minister
Lapang offers truce to the ANVC and HNLC.
- September 22: Union Government blocks
an HNLC discussion group on the Internet through which the outfit
was circulating its newsletter, The Voice.
- August 20: Meghalaya Police arrests
Mardor Bamon, ‘political secretary’ of the HNLC from Mawlai.
- August 16: Suspected HNLC terrorists
attack police training school at Golf links, Shillong, with hand grenade.
- July 29: HNLC ‘chairman’ Julius Dorphang
refutes Government’s claim over surrender of top cadres and asks the
police to reveal the identity of its cadres who have either surrendered
or are arrested.
- July 9: Police file FIR under the Unlawful
Activities Act for funding the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation
Council (HNLC) against 79 businessmen in Meghalaya.
- June 14: Meghalaya Police arrests Paul
Lyngdoh, second in command in the finance wing of HNLC, from a hideout
near Nongthymmai in Shillong.
- June 7: Meghalaya Police arrests two
HNLC terrorists, including the ‘general secretary’ of HNLC’s finance
wing, at the Nongrim Hills locality, responsible for spreading the
extortion network in the Khasi hills and Ri Bhoi districts.
- May 22: Security force personnel arrest
a woman HNLC cadre identified as Blister Mary Kurbah from Mawngap
in the East Khasi Hills district.
- May 14: HNLC ‘assistant finance secretary’
Heston Bohphang is arrested from his residence at Umpling in the capital
Shillong.
- April 19: Two HNLC suspects are killed
and three more arrested following an encounter at Mawpud village,
East Garo Hills district.
- April 23: Security forces apprehend
two unidentified HNLC terrorists near Williamnagar, East Garo Hills
district.
- March 17: Media reports indicate that
HNLC has resumed its extortion drive in the Garo Hills area after
maintaining a low profile for approximately a year.
- March 22: Security forces arrest two
HNLC terrorists at Mawlai, East Khasi Hills district, and recover
three AK 47 rifles, 24 rounds of live cartridges and five magazines.
- March 24: The Shillong Khasi-Jaintia
Church Leaders’ Forum (SKJCLF) Chairman Bishop Purely Lyngdoh announces
that the forum is likely to discuss, among others, a peace initiative
with the HNLC during a meeting on March 27.
- March 4: HNLC suspects kill a police
personnel at Wahthapabru, near Mission compound area, Shillong, in
East Khasi Hills district.
- February 12: Police unearth a HNLC arms
dump, including a carbine, a stengun, 48 bullets of M-16 rifle, 48
rounds of AK series and 103 rounds of hunting rifles, among others,
near Wahingdoh, Shillong, East Khasi Hills district.
- February 5: A HNLC arms dump is unearthed
near Wahumkhrah River in Shillong. Two AK 56 rifles, an AK 47 rifle,
three carbines and unspecified quantity of ammunition are seized from
the dump.
- January 29: Police recover arms and
ammunition, including an M-16 rifle, a semi-automatic rifle, 41 rounds
of M-16 ammunition, 15 rounds of 7.62 ammunition and some incriminating
documents, among others, from a HNLC terrorist at Distar Marbaniang,
in Wahingdoh, Shillong, East Khasi district.
- January 18: Reports indicate that 15
HNLC terrorists have sneaked into Meghalaya from Bangladesh to carry
out terrorist strikes ahead of the Republic Day on January 26.
- January 10: The SKJCLF urges both the
Government and HNLC to hold unconditional talks.
- January 4: In a New Year message, the
HNLC reiterates its aim to achieve ‘freedom’ for the Hynniewtrep people.
- January 3: Union Home Ministry extends
ban under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967 on the ANVC
and HNLC in Meghalaya.
2002
-
December 23: One HNLC terrorist is
killed during an encounter at Qualapatty, East Khasi Hills district.
-
December 9:
Some 20 HNLC terrorists sneak into Meghalaya, armed with sophisticated
weapons, through the porous Indo-Bangladesh border in West Khasi
Hills to carry out subversive activities in the region.
-
December 7:
Meghalaya police arrest four HNLC terrorists from Jaiaw and Mawlai
areas and recover a Sten gun and 20 rounds of live ammunition from
one of the hideouts of the outfit at Jaiaw.
-
December 3:
Police arrest Welcome Nongkynrih, a trusted associate of HNLC area
commander James, in Mawlai Umjaiur, Meghalaya.
-
November 27:
A Special Operations Team of Meghalaya police arrests two Hynniewtrep
National Liberation Council terrorists identified as Roland Syiemlieh
and Banwansuk Nongkseh in Lower Lachumiere area, and recovers a
huge cache of arms and ammunition after raiding a hideout, in Mawlai
Nongpdeng. The catch includes 591 rounds of M-16 ammunition, two
Chinese made hand grenades, a .32 pistol, 5 rounds of SLR ammunition
and an AK-47 magazine.
-
November 4:
HNLC warns the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-led government in
Meghalaya against counter-terrorism measures and police excesses
-
November 1:
HNLC suffers setback following the largest arms seizure by Meghalaya
police. State police unearth a hideout at Khlaw Roman, in Mawlai
Nongpdeng, Shillong, and seize 663 ammunition rounds of various
makes. The seizure includes 460 rounds of M-16 and 169 rounds of
Ak-47 ammunition, two Chinese-made high-explosive grenades, a round
of SLR 7.62 (self loading rifles), .27 bore cartridges and three
rounds of .303 ammunition.
-
October 11:
Five HNLC terrorists armed with AK-47 rifles kill Kilas Momin, a
police personnel in Mawlai Nonglum, Shillong.
-
August 27: An
HNLC terrorist is seriously injured in an encounter in Mawkriah
village, near Shillong while another arrested.
-
August 24: Two
HNLC terrorists are arrested by the State police in Nongthymmai,
near Shillong.
The dead body of a suspected HNLC terrorist is found in Shillong.
-
August 15: Security
arrangements throughout Meghalaya are tightened to ensure the smooth
celebration of Independence Day, following a 24-hour bandh (general
strike) call given by the HNLC and the People's Liberation Front.
Chief Minister F A Khonglam renews his invitation, on the occasion
of Independence day, to terrorists groups in the State "to come
to the negotiation table and sort out differences in a peaceful
manner."
-
August 6: Security
forces in Meghalaya arrest eight HNLC terrorists from Mawlai, Shillong.
The East Khasi Hills district police chief says those arrested are
mostly teenagers and add that it confirms that the HNLC is recruiting
teenagers into its fold.
-
July 1: Meghalaya
police arrest an HNLC terrorist from the 3rd milestone, Upper Shillong.
An AK 47 rifle, a Smooth Bore Breech Loading (SBBL) gun, a country
made revolver, ammunition and incriminating documents are recovered
from him.
-
June 3: Two
HNLC terrorists are arrested in Shillong and another suspected HNLC
terrorist in Nongthyllep village, near Mairang, West Khasi Hills.
-
May 13: Meghalaya
Director General of Police (DGP) L Sailo claims that the HNLC stood
marginalised in the state.
-
May 8: HNLC
terrorists warn all outsiders doing business in Meghalaya to pay
'fixed taxes' and threaten them with 'severe punishment', leading
to 'imprisonment and being driven out of the Hynniewtrep land' in
case of resistance. The terrorist group also promises to negotiate
with those businessmen who found it difficult to pay the 'taxes'.
-
April 2: Meghalaya
Deputy Chief Minister D D Lapang says the government is unable to
spell the terms and conditions for talks with the Hynniewtrep National
Liberation Council (HNLC) terrorist outfit as the latter failed
to give any positive indication to the government's proposal.
-
March 27: Eight
HNLC terrorists, on their way to Bangladesh for arms training, arrested
from Siatbakon Road..
-
January 5: Four
HNLC terrorists, including a local ‘commander’, arrested after an
encounter at Shangpung in Jaintia Hills district. Three HNLC terrorists
arrested after another encounter at Umsing in Ribhoi district.
2001
-
October 23:
HNLC Chairman Julius K. Dorphang discloses that Ching Thangkhiew,
the ‘Commander-in-Chief’ of the North East Red Army (NERA), now
a defunct outfit, had been "eliminated" because he was
assisting the security forces and the RSS against the interests
of the HNLC.
-
March 4: Seng
Khasi leader Rijoy Khongshah, was abducted earlier on March 1, 2001,
killed by HNLC terrorists.
2000
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