Shillong: Khasi villagers in Bangladesh have decided to stop harbouring militants of the outlawed of Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) following continued raids by Bangladeshi authorities on safe sanctuaries of various Indian insurgent outfits in that country.
Ever since the friendly Sheikh Hasina-led government started to take action against Indian insurgent outfits operating from Bangladesh soil, the HNLC was among those severely affected by the government’s policy.
The HNLC is fighting for a sovereign Hynniewtrep homeland for the tribal Khasi and Jaintia in eastern part of Meghalaya.
”The security situation in Bangladesh is no longer the same as in the past when our people used to give logistics support to HNLC members. Now due to the strong policy of the present government we have decided to stop giving them shelter,” a Bangladeshi citizen of Khasi origin told UNI over telephone from Bangladesh today.
Most of the members of the Khasi underground outfit have reportedly left their hideouts at Moulvi Bazaar district due to fear of being arrested by Bangladeshi authorities.
”In the last two months or so, most of the HNLC members have left Moulvi Bazaar district and have shifted to other safe sanctuaries in Bangladesh due to frequent raids by the security forces,” the Bangladeshi citizen said on condition of anonymity.
The HNLC has been crippled by fund crunch and dwindling strength for the last ten years. After the surrender of its chairman Julius Dorphang in July 2007, the outfit leadership now comprises general secretary Cheristerfield Thangkhiew and ‘commander-in-chief’ Bobby Marwein.
So far over 30 Indian separatist rebels, including top leaders of ULFA, NDFB and others, have been arrested by Bangladesh security forces and quietly handed over to the Indian authorities.
Last month, the Rapid Action Battalion commandos of Bangladesh had arrested Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) chairman Champion R Sangma from Haulaghat area under Mynmensing district.(UNI)