Govt ready for talks with HNLC

SHILLONG: At a time when the banned militant outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) is in the news for eliminating a businessman in Pynursla, Home Minister James Sangma has reiterated that the state government is ready to hold talks with the outfit if it first lays down arms.
After killing Romeo Lyngdoh, the banned militant group has now threatened to kill non-tribals if the police do not stop harassing their family members
Speaking to reporters, James Sangma said the government has always maintained that for any kind of talks to take place, militants will have to lay down their arms.
He also termed the recent killing of Lyngdoh as an isolated incident saying the matter needs to be first investigated and facts ascertained. For years, the HNLC has been time and again offering to hold talks with the state government, but the latter has insisted on the outfit to lay down arms first thus leading to a stalemate.
Meanwhile, when asked about the chances of GNLA resurfacing or regrouping, the Home Minister said that one should not speculate about  such things and that the police department is on the job and very vigilant about the matter.
The GNLA was said to have been neutralised after police shot its C-in-C Sohan D Shira last year and many of its senior hardcore cadres surrendered.
However, there is speculation that the left over cadres may be re -grouping.