Saturday, January 11, 2025
spot_img

Central govt not keen on inviting ‘toothless’ HNLC for peace talks

Date:

Share post:

spot_img
spot_img

Outfit’s strength down to 25 cadres, Police sources claim

SHILLONG: The Union government has not been paying any heed to the State government’s eagerness to invite the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) for peace talks, as it has received intelligence inputs about the dwindling numbers of cadres of the outfit and its gradual disintegration.
“The State government has written two letters to the Union government expressing to need for peace talks with the HNLC. We have also suggested the need to appoint an interlocutor. But the Centre has not responded to any of the letters,” a senior government official said on Sunday.
According to the senior government official, who did not wish to be named, the Union government has not responded to the State government’s letters since it has received inputs from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) as well as the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) about the dwindling strength of the HNLC.
“As per the intelligence inputs received by the Union government, the outfit does not have enough weapons at its disposal,” the official said.
The official further observed that the there is little incentive for the government to pursue peace talks with a toothless outfit since it would have to spend a lot of money in offering surrendering packages to the outfit members as was the case with regards to the peace pact signed with the Garo Hills-based rebel groups.
Incidentally, Meghalaya Police sources have also corroborated the IB claims and confirmed that there are only 25 senior HNLC members including the ‘general secretary’ and the ‘commander-in-chief’ who are active and still at large.
Most of the top leaders have given up arms and settled down to family life in Bangladesh.
According to the police sources, new recruits do not receive any instruction or training since the HNLC does not have any functional training camp.
The police sources also claimed that junior cadres have to engage themselves with betel nut plantations due to financial crunch within the organization which has become more severe following the NGT ban on coal mining in Meghalaya.

spot_img
spot_img

Related articles

Manipur: Curfew after Naga-Kuki tension in Kangpokpi, Assam Rifles camp destroyed in Kamjong

Imphal, Jan 11: Curfew was clamped in a sub-division in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Saturday following tension between...

Umrangso coal mine tragedy: Bodies of 3 more trapped workers recovered

Guwahati, Jan 11: The bodies of three more workers, who were trapped inside a coal mine at Umrangso...

Fear of Chinese Manjha grips Varanasi ahead of Makar Sankranti celebrations

Varanasi, Jan 11: As Varanasi prepares for the much-awaited Makar Sankranti festival, a growing fear surrounding Chinese Manjha...

International Kite festival kicks off in Gujarat, foreign tourists have a blast

Ahmedabad, Jan 11: The International Kite Festival 2025 formally kicked off in the city on Saturday, with Gujarat...