SHILLONG: A 17-year-old cadre of the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) who surrendered on Tuesday regretted that his stint at the HNLC camp was “almost like wastage of time”.
The youth from Lakadong village, East Jaintia Hills, who surrendered without arms before Meghalaya Police, told reporters, “It was a different story altogether when I reached there. I intended something else and I was made to do something else.”
“I have the heart to fight for the rights of the Khasi community, which prompted me to join HNLC. But, I differed from their objective/intention, so I left,” he added.
When asked on his disagreement, the 17-year-old informed that the cadres were made to work in betel nut plantation and do household chores like cooking, washing clothes and as he puts it, “We felt like servants.”
He shared anecdotes on life at the camp, he said, “As per the rules of the organisation, we have to wake up at 5 AM and sleep at 9 PM. We get up….take tea, go to work and after coming from work, we cook etc…. it all ends there.”
Interestingly, although, he could not specify much, he claimed that some cadres who were there at Bangladesh have their own betel nut plantation whereas he does not have his own.
“They (HNLC) said that they work for the indigenous community. Even if, they are stying there (in Bangladesh), they can still think for the community,” he added.
At the camp, he was taught to handle AK series rifles and 9 mm pistols by trainers. They undergo trained in one place and were provided basic training.
Stating that he fled from Puticherra, Bangladesh, he said, “I don’t know how many of them are there as I am not too familiar with them. I stayed with another person.”
The disillusioned cadre said that he tried to find out ways to flee the camp and contacted the president of Hynniewtrep National People’s Federation (HNPF), Ronnie M Ranee.
He expressed gratitude to the HNPF for having facilitated his surrender. The class X student regretted leaving his studies but now intended to continue his studies.
He told reporters that he left his village on July 18 last year to join the outfit with three other people who too surrendered recently.
It was through Facebook that he got in touch with the outfit’s publicity secretary, Sainkupar Nongtraw who persuaded him to join militancy.
Asked, on whether, he has met Nongtraw, he said, “No. Ever since I set my feet there and till the time I fled the camp , I had never met him.” The youth has also not met any of the HNLC top leaders. “They would often visit for ‘time-pass’. They come and go,” he said.