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Hmar People's Convention- Democracy
Formation
Hmar
People's Convention- Democracy (HPC-D) is an offshoot of the Hmar People's
Convention (HPC), which came into existence in 1986, as a political
party spearheading a movement for self-government in the north and northeast
of Mizoram. The Hmars, who according to the 1991 census, were 12,535
in number in Mizoram, were disappointed with the contents of the Mizo
Peace Accord of 1986, which failed to address their demand of a
'Greater Mizoram' integrating all areas inhabited by Hmars in Mizoram,
Assam and Manipur under a single administrative unit. Since April 1987,
the HPC waged an armed struggle for autonomy, which touched extreme
levels of violence towards 1991. Hmar cadres abducted tea executives
and triggered off a spate of extortions in the Hmar inhabited areas
of the States of Mizoram, Assam and Manipur.
In
1992, HPC representatives and the Government of Mizoram mutually agreed
to hold ministerial level talks. Consequent to nine rounds of such talks,
a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed at the Mizoram capital Aizawl
on July 27, 1994, for establishing the 'Sinlung Development Council'
and subsequently, 308 HPC militants surrendered along with their arms.
However,
dissatisfied with the implementation process, a section of the cadres
parted ways with the over ground HPC and formed the HPC-D in 1995.
Objective
The
purported objective of the outfit over the years has changed from an
autonomous district covering the north and northeast Mizoram to an independent
Hmar State (Hmar ram) consisting of the Hmar inhabited areas of Mizoram,
Manipur and Assam.
Leadership
The
outfit's 'commander-in-chief' is Lalrupui. Its military wing is headed
by Laltuolien Hmar. While Lalbieknunga functions as its 'deputy commander-in-chief',
Lalrawngbawl Pulamte is the 'information and publicity secretary' of
the outfit. The cadre strength of the outfit is estimated to be between
100 and 150.
In July 2003 during the Hmar-Dimasa conflict in the North Cachar (NC)
Hills district of Assam, the HPC-D formed an armed wing, the Hnam Santu
(Hmar Protection Cell), under the leadership of 'chief commander' Laltuolien
Hmar, to protect the interests of the Hmars from the alleged onslaught
of the DHD. The outfit conducted a successful recruitment drive and
inducted several young Hmar boys and girls from across the NC Hills
and Cachar district into the newly formed cell.
Areas
of Operation
The
outfit is active primarily in Mizoram; the Hmar inhabited areas of Churachandpur
district in Manipur, and the Cachar (with base camps in the Bhuban hill
range) and North Cachar Hills districts of Assam.
Often,
the outfit has used the Bhuban hill range in Cachar district and the
Jinam valley area of the North Cachar hills located at the intersection
of Manipur, Nagaland and Assam to set up base camps and plan operations.
Source
of Funding
The
outfit collects 'protection fees' from the timber mafia in the Cachar
district of Assam. Substantial funds are also reportedly generated in
foreign countries, notably in the United States, by protagonists of
the struggle in the name of protecting Hmar Christians.
There
are also reports that the outfit collects protection money from the
Hmar tribals.
Arms
& Explosives
Over
the years, the HPC-D militants have gained access to sophisticated arms
like rifles of the AK series, assault rifles of the G3 series and explosives.
However,
access to such sophisticated arms is still limited and majority of the
outfit's cadres use SBBL single barrel guns, and ordinary country made
rifles and pistols.
Linkages
with Other Groups
HPC-D,
since its formation, has aligned with several insurgent groups active
in India’s northeast. In its formative years, it maintained a cordial
relationship with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN),
which allegedly provided it with arms and training. It has also carried
out attacks with the support of the Manipur-based outfit, the People's
Liberation Army (PLA).
In
May 2001, the HPC-D joined the Indigenous People's Revolutionary Alliance
(IPRA) - a platform of the five Zo ethnic militant groups: the Zomi
Reunification Organisation (ZRO), two factions of the Kuki National
Front, the KNF-P and KNF-MC, the Kuki National Army (KNA)
and the HPC-D. However, at least two incidents of internecine clashes
were reported between the HPC-D and the ZRA, the armed wing of the ZRO,
during 2004 in the Churachandpur district of Manipur. This finally led
to the signing of a ‘truce agreement’ between both these outfits on
April 7, 2004, at an unspecified location in Manipur.
Over
the years, the HPC-D has also maintained links with other Hmar militant
outfits. In July 1998, the HPC-D joined hands with the Hmar Revolutionary
Force (HRF).
The
outfit is also believed to have maintained strategic links with the
Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF), a Mizoram-based
group.
In
Assam, the HPC-D is known to have some linkages with certain Islamist
terrorist outfits.
Major incidents involving
HPC-D
2012
-
January 27: SFs arrested two sympathizers
of HPC-D in Churachandpur District.
-
January 8: State Home minister R
Lalzirliana said that State Government would not resume talks with
HPC-D 'merely' because of the Centre's pressure to do so. Lalzirliana
asked, "How could the Centre ask us to talk to the outfit now when
the Union Home Ministry, a few months back, had itself asked state
governments to deal with the insurgent outfits as dacoits? ".
-
January 6: MHA has urged Mizoram
Government resume dialogue with the HPC-D in order to find a solution
to the Hmar tribal issue.
2011
-
December 19: HPC-D 'President' Lalhmingthang
Sanate dismissed the news reports on his impeachment as baseless
and completely unfounded.
-
September 29: The executive council
of the HPC-D in its emergency meeting resolved and removed their
'president' Lalhminthang Sanate. According to a press release jointly
signed by secretary information John F Hmar and information publicity
officer David L Hmar, Lalhminthang Sanate, without even informing
and consulting the executive committee of the HPC-D signed the Deed
of Agreement and merged the HPC-D as a member of the KNO. Declaring
the Deed of Agreement signed by Lalhminthang as null and void, the
HPC-D apologised to the Hmar people for allowing a traitor to lead
the party and the people it represented.
-
August 28: The Home Minister of
Mizoram, R. Lalzirliana, claimed that there were no insurgent groups
in Mizoram. Earlier, the Union Minister of State (Home) M. Ramachandran
had said in the Lok Sabha that there were 79 insurgent groups in
the North East, including three groups in Mizoram. Addressing a
political session in the Congress Bhavan in Aizawl, Lalzirliana
described Ramachandran's statement in the Parliament as unfortunate.
While the Hmar People's Convention-Democrats (HPC-D) could be regarded
as a militant group, the outfit is yet to be outlawed by the Government,
he said.
-
August 25: People belonging to different
political parties took out peace processions in three villages in
the North Eastern part of Mizoram adjoining Manipur demanding resumption
of peace talks between the State Government and the Manipur's HPC-D
militants to find a lasting solution to Hmar problem.
Earlier the talks held on November
11, 2010, culminated into signing of bilateral SoO for six months,
but the SoO was never extended as both the Mizoram Government and
the HPC-D began accusing each other on different issues. Chief Minister
Lal Thanhawla on July 27 had informed the State Assembly that the
outfit has already signed SoO with the Centre and it was no longer
fit for the State Government to resume peace talks with the Hmar group.
-
July 27: The Mizoram Government
alleged that some militants belonging to the HPC-D, who did not
follow the conditions laid down in the SoO signed between the Centre
and the outfit, were still indulging in illegal activities. Mizoram
chief minister Lal Thanhawla said the matter had been notified to
the Ministry of Home Affairs so that the Centre could take appropriate
action.
Mizoram will not revive the SoO signed
with Manipur's HPC-D as it has signed one with the Centre. Chief Minister
Lal Thanhawla on July 27 told the state assembly that the Centre signed
SoO with a number of ethnic militant groups in Manipur including Kuki,
Hmar and Paite and the need did not arise to renew the SoO signed
by the State Government with the HPC-D in November last year. He said
that the SoO between the HPC-D and the Centre covered only Manipur
and had not been extended to neighbouring states like Assam, Mizoram
and Tripura.
-
March 31: The
HPC-D has slammed the Government of Mizoram for purportedly putting
strategic impediments in the run up to the Hmar-Government of Mizoram
political talks by insisting on new and narrow pre-conditions and
interpretations in clear violation of the mutually agreed ground
rules. In a press release issued by its department of ‘Information
and Publicity Secretary’ John F Hmar, the HPC-D alleged that the
repeated attempts by the Government of Mizoram to dictate terms
and conditions outside the purview of SoO Agreement was an attempt
to sabotage the peace process.
-
The HPC-D decried
that the pre-conditions set by the Mizoram Government have not only
betrayed the spirit and mutual trust but also seriously tarnished
the credibility of Mizoram Government and its presumed seriousness
for the talks. It further condemned the attitude of Mizoram Government
as divisive and a sinister attempt to further thwart the political
aspirations of the Hmar people.
-
March 13: The HPC-D alleged that after
much deliberation on the ongoing peace process, the Hmar outfit
is convinced of the absence of confidence, trust and commitment
from the Mizoram Government side despite signing the document for
the SoO. "The narrow pre-conditions that have been repeatedly put
forward by the Government of Mizoram have not only reduced the credibility
of the SoO document, but also the parties that are involved in it,"
the outfit's political affairs ‘secretary’ LB Hmar informed on March
12.LB Hmar said the HPC-D strongly believes that both the engaging
parties should pro-actively work to build confidence, trust and
goodwill before the Hmar-Government of Mizoram political talk is
put on track.
2010
-
July 28: Two cadres
of the HPC-D, identified as Thanga Theak of Haflong and J. Lalzarza
of Bara Arkap, were arrested by the Army from Bara Arkap village
in southern Dima Hasao District. Theak was a local area 'commander'
of the outfit. The two cadres were involved in tax collection in
the area and also in coordinating movement of militants in the District.
The Army also recovered two AK-47 rifles, one rifle, three grenades
and more than 300 rounds of ammunition from the area. Pointing out
that HPC-D group is in ceasefire in Manipur and its cadres are restricted
to a camp in Churachandpur District, the Press Information Bureau
(PIB) release said 'the group is also believed to be involved in
the recent blasts on July 21 at Haflong, Mahur and Harangajao'.
-
July 23: The indefinite
cease work strike called by the media persons in Churachandpur District
was withdrawn, after the HPC-D tendered an apology to the Manipur
Hill Journalists' Union and the All Manipur Working Journalists'
Union.
-
July 21: Following
an intimidation on Sangai Express Churachandpur (Manipur) correspondent
by the HPC-D, the Manipur Hill Journalist Union (MHJU) decided to
cease publication indefinitely with effect from July 22.
-
July 12: Assam Environment
and Forest Minister Rokybul Hussain informed the State Legislative
Assembly that militants killed 1,549 civilians and 205 Security
Forces (SFs) between 2001 and June 2010. In the armed encounters
between the SFs and the militants of United Liberation Front of
Asom (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Karbi
Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) etc, 1,703 militants
were killed during this period. 144 innocent persons were killed
when SFs opened fire to bring law and order situation under control
during the period.
The Minister said that
in the incidents of encounter between the SFs and the militants, 26
civilians were killed during the period. During this period, 2,043
ULFA cadres, 899 NDFB cadres and 102 KLNLF cadres surrendered before
the Government and 10,242 members of various militant outfits were
arrested. He also told the House that so far six ULFA leaders and
53 cadres of the outfit are in jail and between January 1, 2010 and
June 30, 2010 two of its leaders and 164 cadres were released on bail.
The Government is interested in holding talks with ULFA, he said.
Further, he said the
House that six militant outfits are active in the State at present.
These organisations include-ULFA, NDFB, All Adivasi National Liberation
Army (AANLA), HPC-D, Muslim United Liberation Tiger of Assam (MULTA)
and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM). According to him seven new outfits
are active - Liberation Democratic Council of Mising Land (LDCM),
United Tribal Liberation Front (UTLF), United Tribal Revolutionary
Army (UTRA), Dimasa National Liberation Front (DNLF), Gorkha Liberation
Army (GLA), Hills Tiger Force (HTF) and Santhal Tiger Force (STF)
have come to light, said the Minister.
-
June 10: HPC-D
and the KNF have increased their activities in North Cachar Hills
District bordering Nagaland. Police sources said two militant outfits
are believed to be involved in three blasts in the District within
the last one month. Sources said that the two outfits have joined
hands to form the HTF with the objective of opposing the renaming
of the District as Dima Hasao. The HTF has already sent letters
to the Government offices opposing the renaming of the District
and the possibility of the outfits indulging in more acts of violence
in the days to come cannot be ruled out.
-
March 29: Assam Forest
Minister Rockybul Hussain in the State Legislative Assembly said
that among the active militant groups, the ULFA has a strength of
875 cadres, while the anti-talk faction of the NDFB has 225 cadres,
AANLA has 30 cadres, Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) has 40 cadres,
HPC-D has 50 cadres, MULTA has 110 cadres and Assam unit
of the Harkat-ul-Mujaheedin has 45 cadres. The Minister further
said that the Unified Command structure is active in the State for
launching coordinated operations against militants. The Minister
informed the House that in the last two years, 535 persons, including
494 civilians and 41 SFs, were killed by militants, while, during
the same period, 333 militants were killed by SFs in counter-insurgency
operations. He added that two outfits, Bircha Commando Force (BCF)
and Adivasi Cobra Force (ACF), are in suspension of operation with
the State Government and two others- BW and KLNLF laid down arms
to join the mainstream.
-
March 18: Three suspected
militants of the HPC-D, identified as Ranhuo Pangamte, Himsang Infimete
and Biaka Fani, were arrested from Pdengshnong Madanryting in Shillong
city of Meghalaya. One M-20 pistol and two cellular phones were
recovered by the Police from their possession. Several indiscriminating
documents related to the outfit were recovered from the house of
Biaka Fani.
2009
-
October 19: The Mizoram Home Minister
R. Lalzirliana informed the State Legislative Assembly that a sum
of INR 2, 49,400 was raised by the HPC-D through extortion notes
from 18 villages on the Mizoram-Manipur border in 2009. Lalzirliana
said criminal cases were registered against the insurgents in the
Vairengte, Sakawrdai, Ngopa, Bairabi and Saitual Police Stations.
He also said that many village council presidents handed over the
money collected from the villagers to the HPC-D leadership in Manipur’s
Thingpuikual village on September 10. The Police in some areas seized
extortion notes and registered cases against the militants, he added.
-
January 12: The Assam Government
stated in the Legislative Assembly that eight militant groups, including
the ULFA, KLNLF, Black Widow, AANLA, KRA, HuM, MULTA and HPC-D,
are active in the State. Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said that
both the ULFA and NDFB are carrying out subversive activities in
Assam under the influence of foreign powers and top leaders of the
outfit are staying abroad. He further said that in 2008, 124 militants
belonging to various outfits were killed and over 1300 were arrested.
The Security Forces also recovered 203 bombs and 202 grenades from
the militants.
2008
-
September 20: The leaders of the
central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) hold talks
with HPC-D and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) at Churachandpur. They
ask the outfits not to interfere in the coming elections to the
40-member Mizoram legislature.
-
September 2: Four police personnel,
including an officer of Mizoram’s first battalion of India Reserve
Police, are killed when suspected militants ambush a vehicle at
Saipum village in the Kolasib district along the border with Assam.
Three other police personnel are injured while civilians who are
in the vehicle escape unhurt. Police suspect the involvement of
the HPC-D. "The HPC (D) insurgents might be the culprits in view
of the coming state assembly polls," an unnamed senior police officer
says.
-
July 15: The HPC-D alleges that
the UNLF and KCP-Military Council frequently rape tribal girls and
are trying to separate the smaller communities in the State.
-
July 14: The HPC-D claims responsibility
for the July 9 killing of a Mizo youth, Lalsangliana, in the Churachandpur
district. The HPC-D accused him of being a KCP cadre.
-
April 26: The HPC-D militants attacked
and cause substantial damage to machineries installed at the construction
site of the Tipaimukh Multi-Purpose Hydel Project in Manipur.
2007
-
September 8: A militant of the Hmar
National Army outfit, identified as Lalsaun, is shot dead by suspected
militants belonging to the rival HPC-D at Saiden in the Churachandpur
district of Manipur. His dead body is recovered from the incident
site a day later.
-
September 7: The 'information secretary'
of the HPC-D, Lalrawngbawla Pulamte, surrenders before the Mizoram
government. He was reportedly brought by police personnel from Silchar
in the Cachar district of Assam to capital Aizawl in Mizoram.
-
January 11: The HPC-D asks for involvement
of the Union Government in peace talks between the outfit and the
Mizoram Government. "If there is any negotiation to discuss the
fulfillment of the provisions of the 1994 accord signed between
the Mizoram government and the HPC, the Centre must intervene,"
a note by the outfit said.
-
January 5: Mizoram Chief Minister
Zoramthanga delegates Charlton Lien Amo, a legislator from Manipur,
as the representative to negotiate with the HPC-D. Amo, belonging
to the Hmar community, was elected from Tipaimukh Assembly constituency
in Manipur twice.
-
January 2: The Mizoram Government
initiates negotiations with the HPC-D. The Government is to send
representatives to the outfit, which operates in Mizoram, Manipur
and Assam's Cachar and North Cachar Hills districts, to evaluate
its demands.
2006
-
March 13: The HPC-D refutes the accusation
made by the UNLF of its involvement in the displacement of Hmar
people from Manipur.
-
March 11: The HPC-D accuses the KCP
of its involvement along with the UNLF in the assault on Hmar women
and extortion of money from the Hmar civilians in Churachandpur
district of Manipur.
-
February 2: Hmar and Paite tribesmen,
who were forced out by militants along the Assam-Mizoram border,
are reported to have returned to their homes at Thanlon and Parbung
in the Churachandpur district. Nearly 1,000 villagers had reportedly
fled their homes following a clash between the UNLF and HPC-D in
January 2006.
-
January 27: The ‘information and publicity
secretary’ of HPC-D, R. Pulamte, while rejecting the ‘accusation’
of UNLF that his outfit is responsible for the 'torture' of villagers
of Parbung and Tipaimukh subdivisions in the Churachandpur district,
says that the Barak river region has been the main source of income
and means of livelihood for the people of Tipaimukh, "but since
UNLF’s ‘occupation’ of the region, heavy ‘taxes’ on all items/commodities
pertaining to the Hmars without the ‘consent’ of the HPC-D had paved
way for the deteriorating relationship between the UNLF and the
Hmar outfit."
-
January 23: UNLF ‘accuses’ the HPC-D,
of ‘conniving’ with the SFs and ‘harassing’ the villagers of Parbung
and Tipaimukh sub-divisions in Churachandpur district, forcing them
to flee to the neighbouring State of Mizoram.
-
January 7: Two suspected HPC-D cadres
are killed in an encounter with UNLF militants at Damdei under Parbung
police station in the Churachandpur district.
2005
-
November 4: HPC-D serves extortion
notes on several persons in Mizoram’s Vairangte village demanding
a portion of their salaries. The notes, written in Hmar dialect,
say that five per cent of the salary for October is to be paid to
the outfit by November 15.
-
March 2: A HPC-D cadre is killed by
security force personnel during a counter insurgency operation in
the Churachandpur district of Manipur.
2004
-
July 26: Suspected HPC-D militants attack a security outpost at
Sonai block in the Cachar district of Assam.
-
June 12: Six
persons including officials, employees and two guards of a cement
manufacturing company, are abducted by a group of suspected HPC-D
cadres in the North Cachar Hills district.
-
April 7: The
HPC-D and the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) sign a ‘truce agreement’
during a meeting held at the residence of L B Sona, chairman of
the Zomi Council, at an unspecified location in Manipur.
-
March 31: Two
HPC-D cadres are killed during an internecine clash between the
HPC-D and ZRA at Rengkai village in the Churachandpur district of
Manipur.
-
March 28: A
HPC-D militant is killed in an internecine clash with ZRA militants
at Renki in the Churachandpur district of Manipur.
-
January 16:
An unidentified terrorist is killed during an encounter between
the Army and suspected HPC-D and Naga terrorists at Moulin in the
North Cachar Hills district of Assam.
2003
-
November 21:
HPC-D in a press release refutes news reports regarding its involvement
in the abduction of three candidates for the State Legislative Assembly
Elections from Suangpuilawn constituency in Mizoram.
-
October 14:
Two suspected HPC-D cadres are arrested from the Hmarculin area
in Cachar district of Assam.
-
September 8:
Four HPC-D terrorists are killed and another is injured during an
encounter in the Jinam Valley area of North Cachar Hills district
of Assam.
- August 6: Remaining
two officials of the Government’s Public Welfare Department (PWD),
held captive by the anti-talks faction of the UPDS since July 8 are
set free.
- August 5: Alleged
plot of the HPC-D to set up a training camp in the jungles near Nagadum
village in Cachar district unearthed.
- August 2: Suspected
HPC-D terrorists blow up a bus that was being used in the Khuga dam
project at Senveg village in Manipur’s Churachandpur district by triggering
an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
- July 17: Media
reports indicate formation of Hmar Hunam Santo (HHS) with links to
the HPC-D as counter outfit of the DHD in Assam.
-
July 4: A girl
is killed and a school and 25 Dimasa (tribe) dwellings are
set ablaze by suspected HPC-D terrorists in Berelang village, North
Cachar Hills district
-
July 1: Assam
Government appoints Justice P C Phukan of the Guwahati High Court
to probe into the inter-tribal clashes between Hmars and the Dimasas
in the North Cachar Hills and Cachar districts.
-
June 29: Four
HPC-D terrorists are arrested from the Marshakhal Punji area in
Cachar district of Assam.
-
June 20: Six
HPC-D terrorists are killed in an encounter with the security forces
at Phyleh village in Cachar district.
-
June 18: Suspected
HPC-D terrorists fire a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) on a clubhouse
at Kumocheera under Lakhipur police station limits in Cachar district
where some members of the Dimasa community had gathered for a meeting.
-
June 17: Dimasa
Students’ Community at Guwahati demands that the Government should
flush out HPC-D terrorists from the State who are alleged to be
operating from the neighbouring States of Manipur and Mizoram.
-
June 16: An
estimated 70 HPC-D cadres set ablaze 50 houses in Dipucherra Dimasa
village in Cachar district. In an ensuing encounter with the police,
one militant is killed.
-
June 12: Police
recover 10 pipe-guns and two kilograms of gunpowder from a house
in Maiserpunji, a Hmar village in Cachar district, following an
attack on Dihankru, a Dimasa village in North Cachar Hills district,
by suspected HPC-D terrorists who set ablaze approximately 40 houses.
Visiting Ministerial team led by State Health Minister Bhumidhar
Barman recommends an immediate operation to flush out the HPC-D
terrorists from the North Cachar Hills district district.
HPC-D terrorists set ablaze approximately 15 Dimasa dwellings in
the Daudung and Duiyungkhro villages in North Cachar hills district.
-
June 10: Five
persons are killed and three others injured in a clash between suspected
HPC-D militants and security forces near Mahur in the North Cachar
Hills district.
-
June 9: Ten
HPC-D militants are arrested from Bitheipunji in the Cachar district
for their involvement in the killing of Dimasa tribals.
-
June 8: Two
women are killed and a dozen others injured in an attack by HPC-D
militants in Kalinagar village of Cachar district.
-
June 6: HPC-D
terrorists attack Lodi Basti, a Dimasa populated village, which
straddles Cachar and North Cachar Hills districts and kill three
tribals, including two women. The terrorists also set ablaze approximately
50 dwellings.
Three Dimasa youths are killed by suspected Hmar militants in the
North Cachar Hills district.
-
May 31: Suspected
HPC-D terrorists attack a village of the Dimasa tribes, Longreng
under Haflong police station limits in Assam’s North Cachar Hills
district, and kill two of them. Ten tribal dwellings are also set
ablaze.
-
May 7: Two Dima
Halim Daogah (DHD)
terrorists are killed in an encounter with HPC-D cadres at Retzol
in the Haflong town of North Cachar Hills district.
-
April 11: Six
HPC-D militants are arrested from the Sonai police station area
in Cachar district.
-
April 7: An
army personnel is killed in an encounter with suspected HPC-D militants
at Didkokcherra in the North Cachar Hills district.
-
March 31: 26
Dimasa villagers are killed by suspected HPC-D militants in Chekerchand
village of Cachar district.
-
February 24:
Three DHD cadres are abducted by HPC-D militants in the Cachar district.
1999
1998
- November: Three
HPC-D militants are arrested along with some arms in the North Cachar
hills district.
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