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Meghalaya
police busted HNLC-NLFT rebel camp
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Meghalaya police on 28 March busted the rebel
camp of HNLC and NLFT in Wahlymbong in Jaintia Hills, killing
two hardcore rebels and arresting six others. The prize catch is
Camp Commander of Chittagoan, Riskin Phawa – the most wanted
militant, who is believed to be involved in the mobilization of
cadres and serving demand notes.
The operation led by SSP Special Branch, Claudia Lyngwa along
with special operation team (SOT) began on March 26 from Jowai.
The officer with her team managed to arrest two cadres at
Malidor – Manuel Umthru and Wilinda Margor, near Ratachera
about 70 kilometres from Jowai. Based on the information of the
arrested militant the team proceeded to Umkiang Pahar junction
to intercept two hardcore militants coming from Bangladesh. The
police got their prize catch; the most wanted militant - Riskin
Phawa along with Hyrpailin Mawlong. Then they move to Umkiang
Pahar where the police picked up two more militant Aibor Sawain
and Chedrack Waniang. They led the police to the camp at the
hill top of Wahlymbong where the encounter took place on March
27. In the encounter two hardcore HNLC militant were killed and
three members of the NLFT escaped. Those killed are Vicky Majaw,
commander of Jaintia Hills and Leader.
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Taking on odd situation – rough terrain, slush
- the police walked for six hours to carry on their operation.
The police believe that this will stop the activities of the
outfit which includes extortion in the coal belt areas and
serving demand notes to businessman. Four SBBL shot guns, two
AK-56 assault rifles and 33 rounds of live ammunition, a
country-made .22 revolver, two Chinese-made hand grenades and
two sets of Japanese-made wireless handsets, three torches, a
mobile handset and two authorization letters for extortion were
recovered from the site of the encounter |
Riskin Phawa, a Bangladeshi Khasi from Noonsera
was highly wanted by the police since 2000. He is believed to be
a courier, guide and a main link to mobilize HNLC cadres. Police
say that he was coming to India to carry on the extortion drive
in the coal belt areas of Jaintia Hills. The police term it a
great success as they have managed to cut the spinal cord
between the two countries.
Phawa however denies that he is a hardcore militant. He was just
helping the HNLC to show route in Bangladesh.
The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) is a product
of a 1992 split in the Hynniewtrep Achik Liberation Council (HALC),
the first militant tribal outfit in Meghalaya.The HNLC was
proscribed on November 16, 2000. An important objective of the
HNLC is to transform Meghalaya as a province exclusively for the
Khasi tribe and free it from 'domination' by the Garo tribe. The
strength of the outfit has reduced in numbers over the years
with many cadres surrendering before the police. In 2007, its
Chairman Julius Dorphang has surrendered. The Commander in Chief
Bobby Marwein and General Secretary Cheristerfield Thangkhiew
are in Bangladesh and the BSF are menting pressure on the
Bangladesh Rifle (BDR) to bring these two top leaders in the
negotiation table.
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Council of Nagaland – Issak Muivah (NSCN-IM). HNLC's nexus
with the Tripura based National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT).
The HNLC also has a front organization called the HSDF (Hynniewtrep
State Democratic Front), whose 'Commander-in-Chief' Dominic
Kharpuli and three other cadres were arrested on October 20,
2001. HNLC promotes the circulation of fake currency in the
State, at the behest of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI),
Pakistan's external intelligence agency.
April 2008 |
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Journalist Saidul Khan sent this report from Jowai in India’s
northeastern Meghalaya state. |
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