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 waste of time”.
The youth from Lakadong village in 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 teenager informed that the cadres were made to work in betel nut plantations, do household chores like cooking and 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 had 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 in Bangladesh had their own betel nut plantations whereas he did not.
“They (HNLC) said that they work for the indigenous community. Even if they are there (in Bangladesh), they can still think for the community,” he added.
At the camp, he was taught to handle AK and 9 mm pistols by trainers. They trained in one place and received 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 stay with another person.”
The disillusioned cadre said he tried to find out ways and means to escape from the camp and even contacted the president of Hynniewtrep National People’s Federation (HNPF), Ronnie M. Ranee for help.
He expressed gratitude to the HNPF for having facilitated his surrender.
The Class X student regretted leaving his studies but now intends 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 however, surrendered recently. It was through Facebook that he got in touch with the outfit’s publicity secretary, Sainkupar Nongtraw and thereafter did not take long to join the outfit.
Asked whether he has met Nongtraw, he said, “No, ever since I stepped foot there and till the time that I fled, I haven’t 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.
