SHILLONG: The Indian Army has branded five criminals as HNLC ‘terrorists’ recently, exposing the eagerness of the Army to get immediate attention.
The Army through an official statement on September 20 had claimed that it had conducted counter insurgency operations in West Karbi Anglong in Assam and arrested five HNLC terrorists besides destroying their hideout and seizing a large cache of arms and ammunition.
However, police sources said that after verification they were found to be mere criminals and added that they were also involved in poaching animals.
The surrendered HNLC cadres had also verified the matter and concluded that they were not from HNLC during an investigation carried out by the Meghalaya police.
According to police sources, the arrest was exaggerated giving undue credit to HNLC as a powerful terrorist organisation, which in reality is a dwindled force.
Police also said these criminals may have used the name of HNLC, but it does not mean they are from HNLC.
The Army troops of the Red Horn Division under the Gajraj Corps had carried out what it termed as ‘a hugely successful joint operation along with Assam Police’ on September 18-19 based on specific intelligence about presence of HNLC cadres.
The Army statement had said that the apprehension of one cadre led to the other and finally all the five HNLC cadres were arrested.
According to Army PRO, the cadres also revealed the location of a hideout in a jungle near the Assam-Meghalaya border, where cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives were hidden. The seizures, according to the Army were two G3 Rifles, one 303 rifle (factory made), one 7.62 mm pistol (factory made), one single barrel gun (factory made), 10 kg explosive, 40 detonators, 66 live rounds and other warlike stores.
However, the Army statement did not mention the names of the arrested persons.
Later, Assam police identified them as Babu Bey (38) son of Sarsing Bey, Mynser village, Karbi Anglong, Pope Lyngdoh (42), son of Wel Shadap also from Mynser, Bastarwel Hanse (34), son of Adro Hanse, Umpanai, Karbi Anglong Dombak Marbaniang (28) son of Phrun L Nonsap of Umsuriang, Ri Bhoi and Polin Nongron, son of Phrein Nongron, Madanrting, East Khasi Hills.
The Army had also claimed that the sustained specific intelligence based people friendly operations against ‘these terror groups have created fear among them and are appreciated by the peace loving citizens of the area’.
