Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC)

Incidents and Statements involving HNLC: 2014, 2013, 2000-2012

Formation

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 HALC split due to inter-tribal antagonisms leading to the formation of the HNLC and the Achik Matgrik Liberation Army (AMLA). In the erstwhile HALC, the Hynniewtreps (Khasis, who trace their origin to seven celestial families) represented the Khasi and Jaintia tribes and the Achiks represented the Garos in the common fight against the Dkhars or ‘outsiders’. The HNLC was proscribed on November 16, 2000.

Objectives

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. Another objective is to fight against the presence of 'outsiders', as the HNLC feels that Khasi youth are deprived of the fruits of development in the state.

Leadership

Julius K Dorphang is the ‘Chairman’ of the HNLC. Cheristerfield Thangkhiew functions as its ‘General Secretary’. Among the other leaders are ‘Publicity Secretary’ M. Diengdoh, ‘Commander-in-chief’ Bobby Marwein. The HNLC ‘Operations group’ consists of Khraw Bian, Shining Star Synkhli, Shynshar Nongbri, Bantei Kharkongor, Raju Blah and Kynteilang Kharkongor. The top leadership of the outfit is based in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. Some of HNLC's camps too are located in that country, mostly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region.

Chairman Julius Dorphang surrendered to the government on July 24, 2007. This surrender was reportedly a result of the internal differences within the organsiation. A group of HNLC cadres was also sent by the outfit's leadership in Bangladesh to eliminate Dorphang. An October 30, 2007 encounter in a locality in Shillong led to the killing of five cadres of the group.

Area of Operation

The HNLC primarily operates in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. A number of its activities has been reported from the capital city of Shillong.

Linkages

The HNLC is closely linked with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Issak Muivah (NSCN-IM). HNLC's nexus with the Tripura based National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) was revealed with the December 17, 2007 neutralisation of a joint HNLC-NLFT camp in the Narpuh reserve forest in the Jaintia Hills district. Accoridng to Meghalaya police souces, both the outfits have been found to be engaged in extortion in the Jaintia Hills coal belt.

The HNLC also has a front organisation 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.

Incidents and Statements involving HNLC: 2000-2012

2012

December 27: SFs arrested five persons, including a militant belonging to HNLC from a vehicle in Dima Hasao District. SFs recovered seven detonators, eight gelatine sticks and five mobile handsets were recovered from them.
December 21: State DGP Kulbir Krishan expressed apprehension over the reported attempts by the outlawed HNLC to regroup itself ahead of the upcoming Assembly election. "We are pretty sure that the HNLC would try to take advantage to make their presence felt in the run up to the upcoming election," the DGP said, while claiming that the State Police are on high alert.
November 19: HNLC warned stern action against the agents of an upcoming cement company in Jaintia Hills for resorting to unfair means to get people's support. The HNLC also wanted the Dolloi and the Durbar Shnong to stop issuing any kind of NOCs to the cement company.
December 12: According to a separate notification of December 12 the Central Government has constituted a tribunal to be headed Delhi HC judge Sudershan Kumar Misra to review the ban on HNLC.
November 9: The BSF has submitted the names and locations of the North East militant campus to Bangladesh during the border-coordinated meeting between the BSF and BGB held at Sylhet from November 5 to 8. BSF PRO, Ravi Gandhi, said, "We have given them all the details and they have assured us of taking action against the insurgents."BSF also raised the issues including the presence of insurgent groups like GNLA, HNLC, NDFB and NLFT in Bangladeshi territory & efforts to prevent smuggling of FICN.
November 6: HNLC cadres hoisted the outfit's flag at Madan Student (Student Field) in Jaiaw in Shillong (East Khasi Hills District), in order to gain publicity. The flag was later seized by SFs on the same day. According to Superintendant of Police, East Khasi Hills, M. Kharkrang, the HNLC cadres were planning to call the media in the next morning to show that the flag of the outfit was flying high.
November 4: The BSF dismissing the reports of militant group HNLC regrouping said that HNLC has an effective strength of only thirty to forty cadres. According to a BSF official, "They only have a handful of armed cadres and there is a growing dejection and mistrust among them," the BSF official claimed. There are also no reports of cross border movement of HNLC militants, the BSF official said, adding that the Bangladesh border force were maintaining strict vigil to keep a tab on cross border activities by the cadres.
October 21: HNLC demanded withdrawal of armed forces and its political machineries from the State. HNLC also demanded that the Government of India should repatriate all the Bengali Hindus from the Hynniewtrep soil who had been granted the status of refugees since 1971.
September 19: The HNLC alleged that its cadre who surrendered on September 18 had fled from the outfit's camp with INR 1.7 million and an AK-47 rifle. The BSF officials had said that Wanniang's surrender was the culmination of a "well-planned" strategy by its intelligence team, which established contact with the hardcore militant in Bangladesh and motivated him to lay down arms and join the mainstream.
September 18: A 'corporal' of HNLC outfit, identified as Jingkyrmen Wanniang, surrendered before the BSF. While depositing a pistol along with four rounds of ammunition, the ultra revealed that the outfit currently has 10 AK 47 machine guns at its disposal.
September 6: United Front formed by northeastern militants in Myanmar and resurgence of their activities in Bangladesh was on the agenda of a three-day annual DGP Conference that began in New Delhi.
August 28: State Government brushed aside the HNLC recent talks offer saying that the rebel outfit has to first lay down arms and shun the path of violence.
August 16: CSWO, a powerful women's group in Meghalaya, urged the Government to accept HNLC's offer for talks. HNLC's 'general secretary', Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, who was hiding in Bangladesh for over two decades, had said that his outfit was ready to come to the negotiating table.
August 15: With fresh reports that the HNLC are indulging in extortion and other criminal activities, Chief Minister also stated that the Government would continue with its zero tolerance policy on any kind of criminal activities whether it is the militant outfits or the surrendered militants.
August 14: Meghalaya Police detected and defused a grenade planted underneath a flag pole of the banned HNLC at Phot Jaud village, about 28 kilometers from Mawkyrwat in South West Khasi Hills District. The grenade was concealed near the flag pole on which the outfit unfurled its flag to mark its 25th raising day.

Sainkupar Nongtraw, the outfit's 'publicity secretary' posted a farewell message on his Facebook account for all the cadres who had lost their lives in the struggle and assured that the outfit would 'carry on the fight'. The outfit had called for a bandh (shut down strike) on August 15 from 1am to 5pm to boycott the Independence Day celebrations.

On its 25th Raising Day on August 14, the HNLC said it was ready to come forward for dialogue with the Government. Maintaining that the Government should be serious while holding the dialogue, Thangkhiew said they would not hesitate to take up arms again if there is any lack of seriousness on the part of the Government to address the issues raised by the outfit. He also made it clear that the outfit would not tolerate anyone sympathizing with the surrendered members of the outfit.

August 13: State Government has strengthened its security apparatus after receiving specific inputs regarding proscribed HNLC's plan to carry out hit-and-run operations to make its presence felt on its 25^th raising day. The outfit's 'raising day' falls on August 14, on the eve of Independence Day. "We take all threats seriously. The security forces have been put on high alert on the reported threat of the militant group. All necessary steps have been taken to ensure that there is no incident in the run-up to the Independence Day," Chief Secretary WMS Pariat said on August 13. HNLC has called for a 17-hour general strike from 1am to 5.30pm on August 15.
August 11: Major militant formations operating in the Northeast called for a general strike on August 15 to boycott Independence Day celebration. However, during the strike, essential services, emergency measures, media and religious activities will be exempted. The militant formations that has called for a general strike, include CorCom of seven rebel organizations HNLC, KLO, NDFB, NLFT and ULFA-ATF.
August 10: SFs seized 100 stickers of the HNLC militant formation, meant for public distribution on the outfit's 25th Jubilee celebration, at Jowai in West Jaintia Hills. A senior Police Officer of West Jaintia Hills informed that the stickers were seized from a Tata Sumo plying passengers from Shillong to Jowai. "Our personnel were conducting regular checking on the National highway when they recovered a suspicious packet and when the packet was opened the stickers were found inside. The stickers read as follows- Long Live HNLC, Awake, arise and Sacrifice, Long Live HNLC. Further, SFs arrested the Sumo driver and were interrogating him to establish his link with the militant outfit.
August 9: A group of HNLC militants has sneaked into the State to create disturbances during the Independence Day celebrations. The groups numbering from 15-16 have divided themselves and are hiding outside the Shillong city limits.
August 2: SFs in the State have been put on alert ahead of the August 15 Independence Day celebration. Special police teams have been deputed in vulnerable areas and important government installations, a senior police official.

BSF has deploying approximately 10,000 personnel an observing an 'Ops Alert' between August 6 and 20 along the 498 kilometer international border with Bangladesh, most of which is unfenced, with difficult terrain and riverine in nature. "We have received specific inputs from the police that certain militants like the HNLC are trying to sneak into Meghalaya and create problems during the celebration," Sudesh Kumar, Inspector General (IG) BSF, Meghalaya Frontier said.

July 23: Meghalaya DGP, N Ramachandran said that the Police department will carry out investigations into the claim of the HNLC which stated that their new recruits are well trained in handling sophisticated weapons.
July 22: HNLC announced through its mouthpiece, The Voice of the Hynniewtrep on Facebook site that it was "back" with cadres who were well trained in handling sophisticated weapons and could operate in any kind of terrain.
July 21: Heavy exchange of fire took place between the Jaintia Hills Police and suspected HNLC militants at a forest near Pynthorsale village under Khliehriat Sub-Division in Jaintia Hills District. According to Jaintia Hills SPO Pasi, the local people informed the officer in charge Khliehriat Police Station, EB Kyndiah about the presence of the unidentified gunmen in the area.
July 15: Police went all out against the GNLA militants and managed to force them out of their hideout in Resubelpara sub-division area in a brief encounter in the morning. The militants were coming out of their hideout which happened to be the house of a sympathizer when the incident took place. Based on intelligence reports about the movement of heavily armed GNLA militants led by their 'area commander' Laben alias Chenang, SWAT commandos conducted an overnight operation in Resubelpara area.

Police arrested the sympathizer identified as Walton Sangma for sheltering the GNLA rebels. Walton has been booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

July 13: GNLA militants dumped the body of a villager after executing them close to a Police camp in East Garo Hills District in the night of July 13. The GNLA militants tortured to death the unidentified villager in Dobu killing with a blunt weapon and then left the body with its hands tied behind close to a police anti dacoity camp.
July 12 :Terming the claim of the HNLC of being behind the July 2 attack on Lumdiengjri Police Station as 'insinuations" to convince the people of its existence, DGP N Ramachandran said such methods do not affect the ongoing investigation carried out by the Police. The Police chief virtually dispelled the HNLC threat as a tactical move of the Khasi outfit.
July 3: Even though the HNLC is yet to officially claim responsibility for the indiscriminate firing at the Lumdiengjri Police station on July 2 night, the outfit publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw has posted on the social networking site (Facebook) that July 2 incident is only the beginning. East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, AR Mawthoh said that the Police have completed the exercise of reviewing the overall security scenario in the city following the firing incident.
June 23: The State Police informed that they have received no information about reports of the newly floated militant outfit HPLF. As per the media a report of June 21, the outfit has been floated in Khasi-Jaintia Hills Districts of the State by some surrendered HNLC members. The State DGP N Ramachandran said, "We have not come across any such reports but the police will keep a track." "The state police cannot comment on the speculative reports of media," Ramachandran added.
May 25: The BSF arrested a top cadre of HNLC, identified as Poli Tangsan alias Suk, from the Dawki border in Jaintia Hills District at around 4.30 pm while he was infiltrating into India from Bangladesh. He revealed that he joined the HNLC in 2007 on the instigation of Hepkoit, a senior cadre and 'area commander' of Dawki. He underwent arms training in Niharpunjee near Lungli river under Sreemongal Police station in Moulvi Bazar District of Bangladesh. He was involved in various extortion drives carried out by HNLC in and around Dawki in Jaintia Hills and Barsora in West Khasi Hills and collected money from coal exporters.
May 18: Surrendered 'chairman' of HNLC Julius Dorphang has been projected as the candidate for the Mawhati constituency (Ri Bhoi District) for the 2013 Assembly elections. The projection was made by the leaders of the MCPC during a press conference, besides confirming the former militant leader's consent to join the electoral fray as an independent candidate. Dorphang will be the second militant leader after Desang Marak who aspires to join electoral politics. Desang was the leader of the disbanded ALMA and made to the State Assembly in 2007.
March 25: Three cadres of HNLC surrendered at Dawki Police Station. The surrendered cadres were identified as, 'sergeant' Wankerlang Kharnaior alias Balam alias Mawsynram, Thakur Pohlong alias Lurshai and 'lance corporal' Thimos Jana alias Khlur. The trio joined the outfit in 2002 and completed their training in 2003. The surrendered cadres informed that they have left the training camp at Chittagong hill track in Bangladesh after serving the outfit for more than 10 years in the training camp. Kharnaior was one of the 'instructors' in the camp. After crossing Bangladesh border, the three were first arrested by the BSF and later handed over to the Police. Kharnaior informed that they decided to leave the training camp with a motive to surrender before the Police but before reaching any Police Station they were arrested by the BSF guarding the international border.
February 28: The Court of the First Class Magistrate, Khliehriat Civil Sub-division, remanded former HNLC 'chief', Julius Dorphang and seven other surrendered HNLC cadres in 14-day judicial custody. Sources also informed that the court also rejected the bail plea of Dorphang and his associates. The former HNLC chief and his seven associates were arrested on February 23 from Khliehriat on the basis of a complaint lodged by Testlang Rymbai, a local coal merchant of Wapungskur, who had accused the former HNLC chief of trespassing into Rymbai's coal mine at Madan Briwar in Jaintia Hills District and assaulting his drivers, besides demanding INR 500, 000 from him.
February 27: The Khasi hills-based militant outfit HNLC is now concentrating on Jaintia Hills and West Khasi Hills Districts for their extortion network. A senior Police official, said the State government had neutralised HNLC in the State capital, Shillong but its cadres continue to extort money from cement plants and coal barons in Jaintia Hills and West Khasi Hills. As Shillong has become disadvantageous for extortion because of the presence of security personnel, the HNLC is targeting the outskirts like Jaintia Hills, which has cement plants and coal transaction points, and West Khasi Hills, which has coal export points. The porous international border along Jaintia Hills and West Khasi Hills also facilitates the free movement of HNLC cadres from Bangladesh.
February 23: Jaintia Hills Police arrested former HNLC 'chief' Julius Dorphang and seven of his associates, all surrendered HNLC cadres, at Khliehriat in Jaintia hills District. The arrested seven former cadres include Iitjanai Sunn, Meborn Rapthap, Hermon Pakyntein, Richard Mawthoh, Armstrong Batiar, James Lyngwah and Roning Dohling. The arrests were made on the basis of a complaint lodged by Testlang Rymbai, a local coal merchant of Wapungskur on February 16, wherein he had alleged that the former HNLC 'chief' along with some of his accomplices had trespassed into Rymbai's coal mine at Madan Briwar and assaulted his drivers and also demanded INR 500, 000 from him. Earlier, Jamrish Rymbai of Mynso village had also lodged a complaint against Dorphang and his associates for allegedly trespassing and looting coal from his coal mine at Briwar.
February 17: Police in Jaintia Hills District started an inquiry into an assault complaint lodged against former HNLC 'chief' Julius Dorphang. According to Rymbai, who lodge the complaint, the former HNLC chief along with associates illegally trespassed into his coalmine and took away three truckloads of coal worth INR 270,000 besides threatening all labourers engages in the coal mine.
February 16: A Police complaint has been lodged by Testlang Rymbai, a coal mine owner, against former HNLC 'chief', Julius Dorphang and his associates for allegedly assaulting coal labourers, drivers and forcibly taking away coal from a mine in Briwar area under Raliang Elaka in Jaintia Hills District.
January 14: BSF arrested three HNLC linkmen at Pyrdwah, East Khasi Hills, while they were infiltrating into India.
January 2: One militant belonging to HNLC, identified as Dirus Shangdiar (29), surrendered before the Mawkyrwat Police in West Khasi Hills District.

2011

December 28: Coal businesspersons from Briwar area under Elaka Nongkhlieh and Sumer Patorship in Jaintia Hills District have alleged that the former HNLC 'chairman', Julius Dorphang along with other surrendered members of the outfit forcibly claiming right over their coalmines.
September 26: The former 'chairman' of HNLC, Julius Dorphang and a member of the SOT of the Meghalaya Police, Joey Marbaniang were arrested following the assault of a surrendered HNLC cadre on September 24.
September 24: Julius Dorphang, former 'Chairman' of the HNLC, along with SOT, assaulted a surrendered cadre of the HNLC at Paltinum Discothèque at Polo Towerson in Shillong, East Khasi Hills District. The surrendered HNLC cadre, identified as Shemphang Khalukhi, was seriously injured in the brawl.

The HNLC has issued a warning to the Nepalese in Meghalaya to refrain from activities which affect the indigenous Khasis living in the Langpih area along the Meghalaya-Assam border in the Meghalaya side. A report says that KSU member Michael Jyrwa (23) and his three relatives were seriously injured in an attack by four Nepalese armed with sharp weapons at Nongsohphoh, Upper Mawprem.

September 23: Troops of BOP in East Khasi Hills District arrested one suspected HNLC cadre, identified as Jainsing Khongla (25). Acting on specific information, troops of BOP arrested the suspected HNLC cadre while he was trying to infiltrate into India from Bangladesh to carry out subversive and extortion activities. The Police recovered 3 Bangladeshi SIM cards, 3 Indian SIM cards and BDT1040/- from him.
September 20: The HNLC alleged that the Meghalaya Government is not sincere to hold talks with the rebel group and warned that it would continue its armed struggle. "We are not against peace. We had done our homework and had submitted a letter to the government in 2004...But the State Government is not sincere," HNLC 'publicity secretary' Sainkupar Nongtraw said in an email. The reaction from the HNLC came within a week of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma saying that the Government was open to hold talks with the militant group to ensure that the issues raised by them could be addressed through constitutional means. Sangma had said that despite offering talks from various platforms, the Government was yet to get any communication from the outfit.
September 15: Legislators cutting across party lines desire that the State Government should initiate moves to bring the HNLC to the negotiating table. Answering to queries during the question hour of the state legislative assembly, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma admitted that an email had come to the press from the HNLC expressing the desire to hold political talks, but was equivocal to supplemented queries on the reciprocal steps undertaken by the Government.
September 5: A highly placed Police source has confirmed that HNLC 'Commander-in-Chief' Bobby Marwein was injured in a gang war shoot-out but not dead. Earlier, the HNLC had strongly refuted the reports of the death of its "commander-in-chief" which had appeared in a section of the media, stating the reports as false and unfounded and intended to mislead the public. The GNLA had also denied the death of the HNLC 'commander-in-chief'.
September 2: The HNLC said its 'commander-in-chief' Bobby Reagan Marwein was alive and was not killed as reported in the media on September 1.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma asked the Centre to confirm the alleged killing of Bobby Reagan Marwein in Bangladesh.

September 1: A sense of confusion prevailed in Meghalaya over the reported death of Bobby Reagan Marwein, the 'commander-in-chief' of HNLC in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The HNLC has neither confirmed nor denied the news. However, GNLA 'publicity secretary' Bikdot Nikjang Marak who claims that all North-Eastern outfits keep in touch with each other in neighbouring Bangladesh said, "Bobby was attacked by a gang of criminals but he is recuperating in a hospital in Bangladesh. These are the hallmarks of a sinister game plan by Meghalaya Police and Indian Intelligence agencies who want to impress their bosses in New Delhi in the run up to Dr Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka later this month".
August 15: A shutdown called by HNLC affected life in Meghalaya even as the state celebrated India's Independence Day. Amid the boycott in one part of the State and growing militant activities in another, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma asserted that insurgency, extortion and other anti-national activities would not be tolerated and dealt with a firm hand.
August 11: Heavy exchange of fire between the Jaintia Hills Police and suspected HNLC militants was reported at a jungle near Iongnoh and Chyrmang village, just few kilometers from Jowai town in Jaintia Hills District. The firing lasted for more than half an hour, police sources informed. Jaintia Hills Additional Superintendent of Police said, "We believed that they are HNLC cadres who had come to Jaintia Hills few weeks ago with the motive of obstructing the Independence Day celebration in the State.. "They (HNLC cadre) might have come from Bangladesh through the Umkiang border and were heeded for Jowai to create trouble so as to generate a fear psychosis among the people," he added.
August 3: The State Police has reiterated that it is not taking the HNLC lightly despite their dwindling presence and prowess. A senior Police official said "The HNLC is still a potential threat to disrupt the Independence Day celebration. Despite numbering only a few, they can still wreck havoc". According to the Police, the number of HNLC men has come down to around 50, but these cadres who are camping in Bangladesh are hardcore militants and can pose a threat to the people.

There are intelligence reports that a few HNLC cadres have sneaked into the State from Bangladesh giving rise to the speculation that they may try to disrupt the upcoming Independence Day celebrations.

August 1: The NDFB-ATF may help the HNLC to carry out subversive activities in the run-up to the Independence Day celebrations. Sources said that, the NDFB had assured the HNLC of providing sophisticated weapons to enable it to carry out subversive activities in Khasi-Jaintia Hills where the HNLC dispatched 12 militants.
July 29: HNLC "commander-in-chief" Bobby Reagan Marwein summoned his close confidantes in Bangladesh two weeks back and asked them to be prepared to enter the State to prove the outfit's presence by resorting to subversive actions in the run-up to the Independence Day celebrations.

About a dozen suspected members of the HNLC have already been noticed in the Khasi-inhabited areas located on the other side of the Indo-Bangladesh border.

March 14: HNLC militant surrendered before the BSF at Pyrdiwah border outpost in East Khasi Hills District. The militant identified as Corporal Jackson Suting, is a close associate of HNLC ‘commander-in-chief’ Bobby Marwein. The HNLC militant told the BSF that prior to his surrender, he was staying in the outfit's camp at Noonchera in Bangladesh. He joined the outfit in 2006 and was trained in handling sophisticated weapons and grenades.
February 18: On condition of anonymity, a Home Ministry official revealed that following crackdown on North-East militants in Bangladesh, the HNLC sent fresh feelers to the Centre expressing the outfit's interest for dialogue.
February 16: The four arrested NDFB militants revealed during interrogation that HNLC and GNLA received training from the Bodo outfit. The GNLA, on the other hand, has also been helping the NDFB by providing shelter to its cadres.
February 12: Interrogation of the four arrested NDBF militants revealed that militants continue to use the porous Meghalaya stretch of the India-Bangladesh border. Meanwhile, a Police Officer claimed that the route used by NDBF militants is exclusively used by HNLC militants and thus there could be some link between HNLC and NDFB.
January 31: The State Police launched a massive operation in search of six HNLC cadres who are believed to be hiding in Mawkyrwat and Ranikor areas in West Khasi Hills District. The militants were part of a team sent for disrupting the Republic Day [January 26, 2011] functions in villages along the international border with Bangladesh, Police said. Another intention of the HNLC militants was to cross over from Bangladesh to restart their extortion activities in coal belt areas of Borsora and Nongjri, Police sources added.
January 28: Police recovered INR 2.27 lakh from the militants belonging to HNLC from a house of one Hoidiam Liam of Riatsasim in Jaintia Hills District. The recovery was based on the information provided by one Manbhakupar Dohling alias Rilang Dohling, who was arrested along with another HNLC cadre on January 25.
January 25: SFs arrested two HNLC militants, identified as Rilang Dohling alias Rilang of Sohra Khliehshnong and Maianbor Tongseng alias Batskhem of Lapalang village near Pynursla, with arms and ammunition at Mooralong, Ladthadlaboh, Jowai in Jaintia Hills District. Police also seized two AK-47 rifles, 85 rounds of ammunition and four magazines from their possession.
January 24: The East Khasi Hills SP A.R. Mawthoh termed that the reported infiltration of eight HNLC militants into the State as a psychological ploy that would have no impact on the Republic Day celebrations in the State. Mawthoh told, "We are not wary of anything because we have put all security measures in place. Our men are on routine patrol. We will even conduct raids in the suspected areas. The HNLC is now a spent force."
January 23: The HNLC called a 24-hour bandh (general shut down) to boycott the Republic Day [January 26] celebrations in Meghalaya. According to a statement issued through e-mail, the outfit's ‘publicity secretary’, Sainkupar Nongtraw, said the '' bandh has been called to protest against the 'Indian' Republic Day celebrations on Hynniewtrep land''. The Meghalaya Government sounded general alert to prevent any attempts by militants to run operations ahead of the Republic Day celebrations.
January 22: According to Shillong Times HNLC training camp in Pyndensohsaw village of East Khasi Hills District near Umngi River, an ideal place to be used as a militant hideout, transformed into an orchard of beetle leaves. The HNLC trained its cadres at the camp during the summer of 2001 under self-styled ‘area commander’ Raja Blah. At Pyndensohsaw, senior cadres were trained while Kynrud was the place for training of new recruits, he said. Then the outfit shifted its base to Bangladesh and started providing training at temporary camps in that country.

2010

December 16: The Ministry of Home Affairs extended its ban on the HNLC terming all wings and factions of the outfit as unlawful. "The insurgent group is detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of the country and if it's not controlled, they would re-group and cause heavy loss of civilian and security forces lives," a Ministry statement said. The outfit, though considerably reduced in strength, is still active in parts of the State. Some of its top leaders including "chairman" Cheristerfield Thangkhiew are still believed to be operating from Bangladesh.
October 8: The law-enforcing agencies over the last seven years are not taking action against surrendered HNLC cadres who are involved in killing, abduction and extortion cases. The Police records said that most of the HNLC cadres who surrendered before the Government during 2003 and 2007 were behind heinous crimes committed in the State. The report adds that the surrendered HNLC leaders like Khainborlang Wanniang, Kynsai Jyrwa, James Sylliang, K. Tongwah, Herman Pakyntein, Lung ktung and others have not been booked for their past criminal activities except a couple of cases filed against surrendered HNLC cadres for their ‘misadventures’ on certain occasions. The report reveals that not a single case has been registered against surrendered HNLC ‘chairman’ Julius Dorphang so far. The report also mentions that there are 300 surrendered HNLC cadres in the State.
October 1: A HNLC cadre, Richarbor alias Juban, surrendered before the Border Security Force (BSF) at Dawki in Jaiñtia Hills District.
September 21: BSF troops of the Assam and Meghalaya frontier killed four militants of ULFA and Military Council of the KLNLF, arrested 17 militants belonging to the HNLC, KLNLF, People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Military Council faction of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), UNLF, MULTA and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) among others. They also got nine militants of ULFA, NDFB and All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) to surrender along with arms and ammunition.
September 12: The HNLC threatened the people against participating in the municipal elections scheduled to be held in Meghalaya on September 14 and 15.
August 30: The HNLC refuted reports that the outfit had borrowed arms from other militant groups for their activities.
August 29: The HNLC is borrowing arms from other militant groups and pay in return after doing the "job" (extortion) with the "instrument". "The delivery power of the banned outfit has decreased so much that it is borrowing arms from others to carry out operations," said S.K. Jain, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Special Branch. "We had inputs about the outfit borrowing arms from Silchar ahead of the Independence Day, but the sources could not be specified," he added. The fact was revealed after the arrest an HNLC cadre, identified as Aibor alias Saddam Hussein, from Pynthorsale village in Jaintia Hills District. He confessed that the outfit borrowed some weapons including six AK-47 rifles, four revolvers and two grenades during that time. Two of the borrowed sophisticated rifles were seized from Aibor.

The HNLC maintains an on-and-off relationship with the NSCN-IM, NDFB and NLFT, according to the ADGP who also said the outfit's nexus with ULFA is not yet ascertained. At present, the HNLC has around 50 active cadres, but each one of them does not have arms and ammunitions. "The figure might not be accurate as it is based on our assessment on sightings and technical intercepts," Jain said. The outfit has its camps at Maulvi Bazar, Sylhet and Chittagong Hill Tract of Bangladesh. Many of its leaders are into betel nut plantations and own stone quarries in the neighbouring country.

August 23: Surrendered HNLC cadre, James Sylliang, refuted allegations leveled by his former chairman Julius K. Dorphrang that he was behind alleged irregularities in the tender process for the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) construction work in Shillong. He also demanded an apology from the former HNLC chairman for his "irresponsible remark".
August 20: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has sought a status report on the allegations against surrendered HNLC militants interfering into affairs of the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong and also being involved in cattle smuggling. "We are taking seriously the inputs received about the alleged illegal activities of the SHNLC men. The government is committed to ensuring that lawlessness does not prevail and will not allow anyone to indulge in activities that will go against the interest of the people of the State," Sangma said.
August 19: Shillong Times reports that the surrendered HNLC cadres are slowly taking charge over some crucial business interests in Meghalaya. Sources said the surrendered cadres are also getting the bulk of contract works in North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU). The unemployed youths in the State allege that the Government is tilted towards the surrendered militants instead of encouraging educated youths for productive growth. Sources said that whenever any tenders are floated by NEHU the officers of the construction wing direct the youths to meet and seek permission from Julius Dorphang, the former self-styled HNLC ‘chairman’ and his associates. Incidentally Dorphang is also a seasoned businessman now. Some registered contractors of NEHU on request of anonymity said, "Surrendered HNLC cadres are the bosses in NEHU and they are the ones who control the tendering process now."

According to these contractors, the surrendered HNLC has formed its own association of contractors particularly for NEHU construction works. All registered contractors seeking work in NEHU have been advised to seek membership of the association or they would not be allowed to participate in the tendering process. "We are required to pay a commission ranging from two to five per cent of the total value of the project to the surrendered HNLC association for each and every contract allotted to us," a contractor said. The report adds that the surrendered militants take full charge during the submission of tenders. They are at the gate to scan all tenderers and oversee the entire tender process. Contractors are actually short listed and selected by these former militants. Sources have also informed that most of the parking bays under the Meghalaya Urban Development Agency (MUDA), too, are controlled by the surrendered HNLC cadres.

The Special Operation Team (SOT) personnel arrested nine cattle smugglers from Pynursla area in East Khasi Hills District in the night of August 19. The Police had also seized 16 cattle heads, INR 265000, one truck, five light vehicles and nine cell phones from their possession. Besides having link with the surrendered HNLC cadres, they are close to certain top politicians including a Cabinet Minister of the State, sources said. "Though the Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh was informed about the serious matter, he did not initiate any action since there was pressure on him from various quarters to overlook the issue," sources claimed.

August 16: The HNLC reiterated its desire to hold talks and asked the Meghalaya Government to "show seriousness for lasting peace" in the State. HNLC ‘general secretary’ Cherishstarfield Thangkhiew said the outfit was willing to hold a political dialogue with the Government on various demands. However, Thangkhiew deplored that the Government had made statements on the need to have peace only in the media and was yet to take any pro-active steps on the issue.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said his Government was always ready to have a political dialogue with the HNLC. Responding to the statement issued by the HNLC reiterating the outfit''s desire to hold talks "provided there is seriousness on the part of the government," the Chief Minister said the Government would be pleased to have the modalities for the dialogue.
August 15: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma expressed concern over the activities of new militant outfits and those from Assam as a 36-hour shutdown by the HNLC paralysed life in four Khasi-Jaintia Districts of the State on Independence Day. The report adds that a group of HNLC cadres armed with AK56 rifles and grenades had entered Meghalaya from Bangladesh to strike in the capital town of Shillong.
August 13: The HNLC reiterated its objection to holding of civic polls in the State saying the elections would snatch away the power of the traditional institutions. In a press statement issued, HNLC 'publicity secretary' Sainkupar Nongtraw said, "Has the Indian government taken the prior consent of the people to conduct the civic polls or does it intend to go ahead with the polls by discounting the will of the people?". The outfit also termed the celebration of Independence Day in Hynniewtrep land as 'illegal' and asked the people to refrain from the celebrations.
August 12: Meghalaya Minster in-charge of Home H.D.R. Lyngdoh said that the Police have intelligence inputs of 10 to 12 HNLC militants managing to infiltrate into the State from Bangladesh with weapons. "Police is on their look-out," Lyngdoh said.
August 11: The HNLC called for a 36-hour bandh (general shut down) from 6 pm on August 14 to 6 am on August 16, in protest against the Independence Day celebrations on August 15 in Meghalaya. Meanwhile, several prominent citizens of the State criticized the call for bandh.
August 9: The HNLC warned the Residential Director of a cement factory in Jaintia Hills for his "ill behaviour" and asked the company to take corrective measures. A statement issued by HNLC 'publicity secretary' Sainkupar Nongtraw also asked the official, Divander Bhansal, "not to confront" with the sentiment of the local population.
August 6: The HNLC has adopted the jehadi style to disrupt the Independence Day celebrations in a shocking way, intelligence sources revealed, reports Shillong Times. "HNLC cadres are moving in groups of three to four people similarly like the jehadis during any operations. There is even similarity to the Mumbai attack as far as movements of militants are concerned," intelligence sources said. Intelligence sources confirmed that the HNLC cadres in smaller groups have already sneaked into Meghalaya from Bangladesh. Referring to the recent arrest of HNLC's Aiborlang Khartani alias Saddam Hussein, sources said, "Police have managed to nab one of them, but could not get all the facts from him as in this kind of situation no one really knows about the whole operation since every group is given specific tasks," the sources added.

The intelligence sources confirmed that the HNLC is planning "something big" which might shock the Shillong city this time. The outfit, after losing its ground a few years ago, is desperate to make its presence felt once again in the city, sources said. "Once it is able to develop the fear psychosis in the minds of the people, they would be able to extort money from the city's non-tribal businessmen," sources said claiming that extortion drive by HHLC has been totally wiped out. Meanwhile, the sources have not denied any nexus between HNLC and jehadi outfits like al Qaeda for subversive acts. There is also strong suspect about HNLC getting arms from the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM). "As per our information, HNLC does not have enough arms," the sources said.

August 4: The Jaintia Hills District Police arrested a HNLC cadre, identified as Aibor alias Saddam Hussein, from Pynthorsale village about 30 kilometres from Jowai. Police recovered two AK-47 rifles from his possession.
July 18: A HNLC 'sergeant major' Joplin Pohtam alias Jop, a key aide of the outfit's 'commander-in-chief' Bobby Marwein, was arrested by the BSF near Umngot River in Dawki of East Khasi Hills District. The BSF said Joplin, who hails from of Sokha village in Jaintia Hills, was arrested while trying to cross over to India from Bangladesh. However, sources claimed the HNLC top leader was not arrested and that he was handed over by Bangladeshi nationals after making him drunk.
July 5: HNLC runs a stone quarry in Jafflong District of Bangladesh. The outfit is also believed to own several betel nut plantations besides running other business in Bangladesh. A senior Police official confirmed the presence of the stone quarry at Jafflong near the India-Bangladesh border. "We came to know about the existence of a stone quarry owned by the HNLC in Bangladesh from the arrested and surrendered militants," the official said. According to sources, the outfit's daily earning from the quarry amounts to INR 30,000 to INR 40,000. "Inability of the group to carry out extortion drives in Shillong has prompted it to find a new means of earning," the sources claimed. The sources further revealed that HNLC cadres often come through Umngot river to Dawki along with Bangladeshi labourers in boats to collect boulders for the stone quarry.

Sources said the vital confessions were made by HNLC's self-styled ‘sergeant major’ Pariston Pakyntein, who was arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) near Dawki recently. Pakyntein told the police that the stone quarry had been in operation for the last two years and many cadres of the outfit are ''engaged'' there. The Police sources believe that strength of the outfit has reduced considerably after many of its senior leaders and cadres were either arrested or surrendered before the Police. The State Police claim that the present cadre strength of the HNLC is below 50. The HNLC top leaders, including ‘general secretary’ Cherishsterfield Thangkiew and ‘commander-in-chief’ Bobby Marwein are still at large and believed to be remote controlling the outfit from Bangladesh.
June 6: Sentinel reports that 13 militant organizations from the Northeast States of Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya figure in the list of banned organizations as it appears in the website of the Union Home Ministry (MHA). The ULFA heads the list. The other outfits were: NDFB, People's Liberation Army (PLA), and United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Revolutionary party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kanglei Yaol Kanna Lup (KYKL), Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF), Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), HNLC and Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC).
May 20: The 12-hour general shut down called by the HNLC, in protest against the May 14 killing of villagers at Langpih along Assam-Meghalaya border, affected normalcy in capital Shillong and other Districts of the State.
May 15: The HNLC called a 12-hour bandh (general shut down) on May 20 in Meghalaya in pretest against the May 14 killing of four persons belonging to Khasi community by the Assam Police at Langpih village along Assam-Meghalaya border. "The unfortunate incident took place only because neither the Centre nor the state governments are interested to resolve the long-pending boundary disputes," the outfit's publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said.
May 12: The HNLC reiterated its denial of any involvement in the killing of Khasi Students Union (KSU) leader Phershal Kongwang in 2007.
May 11: HNLC was involved in the abduction and subsequent killing of the Khasi Students Union (KSU) leader Phershial Kongwang in 2007. The slain KSU leader's father Gabriel Kharmawshun said, "Some surrendered HNLC cadres had informed us that our son was killed by the outfit." Self-styled 'sergeant major' of the outfit Poniston Pakyntein, who was arrested by the Border Security Force from Dawki in Jaintia Hills District in May 2010, had confessed before the Police that he was involved in the abduction and killing of Phershial on December 16, 2007. He disclosed that he and some of his accomplices took the KSU leader to Radhanagar Bagan in Jaflong area of Bangladesh and killed and buried him there. Meanwhile, KSU general secretary Hamlet Dohling said, "HNLC should clarify as to why was he kidnapped and killed."
May 2: Four cadres of the HNLC were convicted of arms smuggling and imprisoned for 17 years in Bangladesh, said Additional Director General of Meghalaya Police (Special Branch) S. K. Jain. "Sketchy reports from various networks confirmed that the four convicted Indians in Bangladesh are members of the outlawed HNLC," said Jain. On April 29, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge of Sylhet-I convicted Robin (35), Mill (28), Over (25) and Star (24) - all hailing from Shillong - in a five-year-old case of arms smuggling. All the four, Jain said, were wanted by the Meghalaya Police for their involvement in the biggest bank robbery in Jaintia Hills District on January 24, 2005. On July 15, 2005, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troopers arrested the four HNLC militants from Karaballa point under Sylhet District after they entered Bangladesh through Karimganj sector in Assam. The BDR recovered from their possession an AK 56 rifle, three grenades, two 9-mm pistols, 316 bullets and four magazines of AK 56 rifle, 328 bullets and three magazines of 9-mm pistol, INR 3,000 and BDT 2,700. According to the Police official, the HNLC is closely linked to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland- Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT).
April 30: Meghalaya Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh asked leaders of the proscribed HNLC to give up armed struggle for a Hynniewtrep homeland and join the mainstream.
April 28: A HNLC cadre, Wilfred Syiem alias Bah Grik, surrendered at Amlarem Police Station in the night. Superintendent of Police of Jaintia Hills District O. Pasi informed that Wilfred had joined the outfit in 2001 and had undergone arms training in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Wilfred, a resident of Mawlai Nongpdeng in Shillong, did not deposit any arms. He revealed that he had worked as a daily labourer at Panai, a Khasi village in Sylhet District of Bangladesh.
April 9: Two suspected HNLC cadres were arrested by the Border Security Force personnel near Dawki in Jaintia Hills District along India-Bangladesh border. They were identified as Rishot Lyngdoh and Suk Kharakor.
April 8: The HNLC slapped a demand of INR three million on a local car dealer. Sources said that the HNLC is taking advantage of the turmoil prevailing in the State and the resurgence of militancy in Garo Hills to send a message that the Khasi and Jaintia Hills are its turf and no one can operate in that space. The report adds that several others, including coal traders and businessmen, received extortion notes in recent times but they all decided to remain silent and negotiate with the outfit. Sources said that many of these businessmen who have received extortion notes do not have enough faith in the system to seek for any kind of help. They preferred to negotiate and pay some amount to the outfit and continue with their businesses than counter the militants. Sources said that HNLC remained immobile for sometime but a senior Police official said, "it is a matter of time before they resurface because the State does not seem to have a policy to deal with them." Several young recruits have joined the outfit in recent times and negated the efforts of the State Police to immobilize the outfit, said sources.
March 19: The Meghalaya Governor R. S. Mooshahary expressed concern over mushrooming of militant groups in Garo hills and the activities of Assam-based outfits along the border. The Governor said that recent developments, such as reports on the formation of militant groups in Garo hills, were a cause of concern. Other militant groups active in Garo hills are LAEF, People's Liberation Front of Meghalaya (PLF-M), Achik National Security Defence (ANSD), Atong Liberation Army (ALA), and United Achik National Front (UANF). ULFA and NDFB are also active in Garo hills and border of Ri Bhoi District. The Governor said that the Government was committed to contain militancy at all costs. The Governor added that the security establishment of the State has acted swiftly to break up and contain the activities of the Hynniewtrep Liberation Front (HLF) in Khasi hills, and LAEF in the Garo hills. He said the activities of the local militant organisations like the HNLC and ANVC have been substantially controlled.
February 8: Three suspected HNLC militants, identified as Ribonlang Nongbri (21), Ekliar Nongbri (26) and Thringstar Nongbri (35), were arrested by the Police from Lewduh area in Shillong city.
February 7: The former chairman of the HNLC, Julius Dorphang, demanded a review of the rehabilitation package for surrendered militants, saying there were many drawbacks in the system. Dorphang said many surrendered militants wasted the INR 150000 given to them after the rehabilitation period, ranging from three to nine months, at Mawiong. As the Government has no proper policy to help the militants sustain themselves in the long run, the one-time financial assistance has not paid off. The money is deposited in the bank in the name of the surrendered militant and is often withdrawn soon after the rehabilitation period, he said. He said though there is an official-level committee supervising the rehabilitation package, it has no say regarding the withdrawal of the funds. According to Dorphang, there should be a committee to monitor the release of the funds and they should also change the current system of allowing the surrendered militants to withdraw the money deposited in the bank. "I am not in favour of providing cash to the surrendered militants directly. The money can be put to use to start a small business with the knowledge of the monitoring committee," he said. There are at least 200 surrendered HNLC militants in Shillong who have completed the rehabilitation. Dorphang said senior members like him should also be part of the monitoring committee so that the genuine beneficiaries are not deprived of the cash incentives. He also pointed out that among the 200 surrendered militants, some were yet to get the rehabilitation package. "Some of the boys said they are yet to get the rehabilitation package though they had surrendered several years ago," Dorphang said, adding that the Government should process their cases.

Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang in the Conference of Chief Ministers on Internal Security asked the Centre to go for a tripartite political and development accord with the ANVC to bring the ongoing peace process to a logical conclusion. He also stated that insurgent outfits like ULFA, National Socialist Council of Nagaland, NDFB and UPDS are not only supporting groups like LAEF, but also providing them arms, ammunition and training. He said that insurgent outfits both from the Northeast and adjoining Bangladesh were also using the peaceful State of Meghalaya both as temporary sanctuary and corridor. Lapang further claimed that both ANVC and HNLC have been largely neutralised with a sustained Police operation. But passive militancy is still a cause for concern, he further added.
January 31: A senior Police official said that with coal business thriving in West Khasi Hills, the HNLC is luring innocent young men to work for the militant outfit taking advantage of the large scale unemployment and backwardness of the District. The boys act as couriers to distribute demand notes and collect money from the coal barons on behalf of HNLC. "We are concerned over the attempt of HNLC to recruit the illiterate, impressionable boys from West Khasi Hills border", the official said. The HNLC has gone on a massive recruitment drive along the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border to meet the huge vacuum in the organisation, he added. In recent times, the HNLC has suffered a rapid attrition in its manpower strength. HNLC ‘area commander’ Alex Hahshah, who was arrested along with eight other new recruits from a house at Parmowda village in West Khasi Hills District on January 27, has been in the coal belt areas for the last five years and was instrumental in recruiting the boys in that area to join the outfit. According to police, Hahshah was wanted in connection with several killings and extortion in different parts of the State in the last six years. The nine member group of militants was operating in the coal-rich areas of Parmowda, Borsora, Nongjri, Nonghyllam and Rajaju for the past several days. Their sole purpose was to extort money from the coal barons, before they landed up in police custody. As this is the peak season for coal export, several coal laden trucks move from the coal rich areas of West Khasi Hills to different destinations, Police said. The HNLC is taking advantage of the situation to extort money, Police added. According to Police, constant vigil in Shillong has made it difficult for the HNLC to operate within the city so they have now focused on the coal belts and other mineral-rich borders areas as a safe haven for carrying out extortion. He also said that the ongoing extortion in the border areas is a cause of concern but efforts are on to check this trend.
January 27: The Meghalaya Police arrested nine HNLC cadres, including an ‘area commander’ Alex Hahshah, during a search operation at Parmodan village in West Khasi Hills District. "We had been looking for the area commander for the last six years," Superintendent of Police of West Khasi Hills District M. Kharkrang said. The group was planning to embark on an extortion spree. The report adds that in 2009 there were nearly 50 incidents in which the HNLC was involved and in all five persons were killed. Police sources said in 2009, 62 militants had been neutralized and of these, 48 were arrested, 10 surrendered and four were killed.
January 23: A National Youth Award winner, Andreas H. Marwein, was arrested by the Meghalaya Police in capital Shillong for his linkage with the HNLC. Police said Marwein, who had received the National Youth Award in 2009, was recently arrested for working as an over ground worker of the militant outfit. According to Police, Andreas had collected nearly INR 10 million over the last five years for the HNLC and helped mobilize youths to join the outfit.
January 15: Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang rejects media reports that HNLC's top leaders, including the outfit's 'general secretary' Cheristerfield Thangkhiew and 'spokesperson' Sainkupar Nongtraw, were about to surrender before the State Police. There were reports that the two top HNLC leaders had managed to escape from their base in Bangladesh to Meghalaya to surrender. "We have not received any information about their surrender from the police," Lapang said. He also added that the Government had not made any contact with the cadres of the proscribed militant outfit. There were also reports that the two top militants of the outfit are likely to surrender following an ideological difference with the outfit's 'commander-in-chief' Bobby R. Marwien over a Government invitation for talks, but the militant outfit had earlier refuted the reports saying that all was well within the outfit. The report adds that the Chief Minister had asked the HNLC cadres to surrender ''honourably'' and also offered them safe passage after the recent arrest of ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa.
January 4: Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills District Claudia Lyngwa denying the reported revival of the HNLC in Meghalaya said, "One swallow doesn’t make a summer….The outfit is down and its dares to operate only in areas where the businessmen receiving demand notes don’t cooperate with the police out of fear."
The former HNLC ‘chairman’ Julius Dorphang said that to use the surrendered militants was not a right approach and instead he asked the Government to initiate peace talks directly with the outfit. After the December 23, 2009 hit-and-run by the HNLC militants in East Khasi Hills, which left a coal baron dead and his wife injured, Meghalaya Director General of Police S.B. Kakati had suggested that the Police might ask surrendered HNLC militants for their help to search for the hideouts. The Police wanted to take the help of surrendered cadres to track the militants who take shelter with Khasi villagers inside Bangladesh after carrying out criminal activities in the State. The Police thought the surrendered HNLC militants, who are familiar with the terrain, would be of great help to them. However, terming the move as not acceptable, Dorphang said this would create bad blood between the HNLC and the surrendered militants. "The idea of seeking the help of surrendered militants to hunt for the HNLC is not desirable," Dorphang said. He said if the Government wants to bring the HNLC to the negotiation table, the help of their relatives can be sought. There are around 200 surrendered militants in Shillong and Dorphang who is one among them warned that the present law and order situation might worsen if the Police sought the help of the surrendered militants to neutralise the HNLC. He, however, criticised the HNLC for killing the coal exporter. "This act is that of petty robbers and if the HNLC wants to fight, it should directly wage war with the security forces and should not target innocents," Dorphang added.

2009

December 29: The Meghalaya Police decides to seek the help of surrendered HNLC cadres to track down the militants who are provided shelter by villagers residing in Bangladesh after carrying out criminal activities in the State. "We are developing a strategy of engaging the surrendered militants to tackle the HNLC militants in the border," said Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP) S.B. Kakati. There are more than 150 surrendered HNLC militants who had narrated to the police in the past that majority of the HNLC cadres stay with Khasi villagers inside Bangladesh. The militants also assist the Khasi villagers in the betel nut plantations. A major disadvantage for the Meghalaya Police is its inability to build up an effective intelligence network along the border areas of the Khasi hills region where the HNLC has a significant presence. Unable to extort money from Shillong due to constant vigil of the Police, the HNLC militants are carrying out large scale extortion from the coal exporters in the remote borders, Police said. "We need effective co-ordination of the police forces of East Khasi Hills and the Jaintia Hills to tackle militant activities in the borders," said Kakati, adding that more forces will be deployed in the border to tackle insurgency related crimes. "We had deployed some personnel of the Special Operations Team (SOT) in East Khasi Hills border, but we did not have actionable intelligence about the attack on December 23 [killing of a coal trader]," the DGP said. Kakati also admitted that police were aware of the threat to the coal baron from HNLC through intelligence inputs but the slain coal trader's family members had not divulged anything.

The Meghalaya Government orders a magisterial inquiry into the death of an inmate of the Jowai District Jail, Pynhunlang Kharbani (33), who was declared ‘brought dead’ at Jowai Civil Hospital on December 26 after he suddenly fell sick in his prison cell. Kharbani was reportedly booked under the Meghalaya Detention and Prevention Act (MPDA). ''A magisterial inquiry into the death of the prisoner is already on to find out the exact cause of death,'' Jaintia Hills District Deputy Commissioner T. Dkhar said. He said a 15-day time was given to the Additional District Magistrate Sainkupar Syiemlieh to investigate into the incident. Meanwhile, the HNLC claims that Kharbani was a cadre of the outfit.
December 28: The HNLC militants are taking shelter in Khasi villages well inside Bangladesh after committing crime in Meghalaya. "The HNLC militants mingle with the Khasi villagers staying in Bangladesh thereby making it impossible either for Meghalaya police or Bangladesh security forces to track down the militants," a senior Police Official said. The report adds that four HNLC militants who shot dead a coal trader, Raja Khongsit, in the East Khasi Hills border area, had infiltrated from Bangladesh into Pomshutia village in Meghalaya and exfiltrated to Bangladesh after committing the crime.
December 23: A coal trader, Raja Khongsit (45), is shot dead by four suspected HNLC militants at Pomshutia village in East Khasi Hills District. His wife is injured in the attack.
December 19: Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang criticizes the HNLC for creating confusion by resorting to a general shut down even after the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram cancels his visit to the State. The outfit reportedly called the 24-hour general shut down, beginning 6.30pm on December 18, to protest against the Home Minister’s visit, alleging that India was adopting double standard on human rights issues.

The former ‘chairman’ of the proscribed HNLC Julius Dorphang said the outfit's insistence on going ahead with the general shut down even after the Union Home Minister had called off his visit to the State was a major blunder in the history of the outfit. "It shows the leadership vacuum in the HNLC," the surrendered militant mentioned.
December 15: An HNLC cadre, Badonsing Lyngdoh Marshillong, who surrendered before the Dawki Police in the evening of December 13, reveals that the outfit still had over 100 cadres and most of them were wandering in Bangladesh to earn for their livelihood. He mentions that while leaders of the proscribed outfit were leading a luxurious life in Bangladesh, its common cadres were facing a lot of difficulty to make their both ends meet. He said the cadres of the outfit were working as labourers in the Khasi Pnar villages of Bangladesh. Marshillong, who joined the militant group in 2003, is a school drop-out. A resident of Pyndengsohsaw villager under Mawsynram Police Station in East Khasi Hills District, Marshillong crossed over to Bangladesh via Balat and completed his training at Arusumen Camp in the same year. After his training, the leaders gave him no assignment and had to spend his time with no responsibility. Later, he worked as a labourer at betel leaf garden of some of the Khasi-Pnar people residing at Nonsara village in Bangladesh earning BDT 100 per day. In 2006, he married one local Nonsara girl, Syntiew Dkhar. They now have a two-year-old daughter. In 2007, Marshillong had informed the ‘area commander’ of the banned outfit in writing that he was not willing to remain in the group. But he did not get any response. In the early part of December 2009, the group asked him to leave Bangladesh at once or face death. He was forced to leave Bangladesh. He crossed over to India on December 13 and surrendered at Dawki Police Station.
December 16: The HNLC calls for a 24-hour general shut down during Union Minister of Home Affairs P. Chidambaram's visit to the State on December 19. The HNLC spokesman Sainkupar Nongtraw said that the shutdown will come into effect from 6 pm on December 18 in the entire Khasi-Jaintia Hills. ''The bandh will be organised to show to the Union Home Minister the opposition by people of 'Hynniewtrep Land' against forceful occupation of land by the armed forces, human rights abuse and attempt to forcefully extract uranium from West Khasi Hills,'' Nongtraw said.
December 13: A senior HNLC cadre, Badonsing Lyngdoh, who hails from Pyndemsohsaw in West Khasi Hills District, surrenders at Dawki Police Station in Jaintia Hills District. He surrenders along with his wife and two-year-old daughter. His wife is identified as Syntiew Dkhar hailing from Nonsara village near Maulari Bazar of Sylhet District in Bangladesh. Badonsing had joined the outfit in 2003. Police subsequently take the militant and his family to Jowai for interrogation.
December 6: The HNLC rejects Meghalaya Chief Minister D. D. Lapang’s appeal to ‘surrender’ and his offer for ‘safe passage’. The outfit accuses the Government for not being sincere by solving political problems raised by it. "Mr Lapang’s statement was only to frighten us and dampen the patriotic spirit in the history of Hynniew-trep", the HNLC says. In an e-mailed statement issued to a section of the media, HNLC says, "The organisation will not entertain the personal appeal of Mr Lapang for safe passage."
December 5: Meghalaya Chief Minister D. D. Lapang appeals to HNLC leaders ‘general secretary’ Cherishterfield Thangkhiew and ‘commander-in-chief’ Bobby Marwein to come over ground and also offers them ‘safe-passage.’
August 12: The HNLC calls for a boycott of the Independence Day celebrations on August 15 saying "it is against the Indian colonialism for denial of the basic human rights (national existence) which is our birth right''. In an e-mailed statement, the HNLC spokesman Sainkupar Nongtraw says the outfit had formed the council to "fight with arms towards the freedom of our people from the clutches of forgiveness in the Hynniewtrep land".
May 20: A senior militant of the banned HNLC, identified as Phikerlang Majaw alias San, surrendered before the East Khasi Hills District Police. He had joined the HNLC in 2002. He crossed over to Indian territory from Bangladesh after deserting the outfit's camp at Arisuma in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) area a few days ago. Phikerlang's primary job was to ride a boat, a three-hour journey, carrying food items, including rice and vegetables, to the HNLC camp from Borkhaghat market. Phikerlang said he decided to surrender after being fed up with the hardship he had to endure in the HNLC camp in CHT. He said he had stayed with HNLC leader Hep Khoit and his wife in the camp, adding that about 50 HNLC militants were still living in the camp at Arisuma under the command of one Kambes. He, however, said there were only two weapons, one AK47 and the other AK 46, in the camp. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills District, Claudia A. Lyngwa, said other militant groups, including the NLFT, KYKL and NDFB, had set up base in CHT area and was providing arms training to the HNLC militants.
May 1: Meghalaya Police revealed that militants of the banned HNLC, who surrender before the Security Forces without depositing any arms and ammunition, are being offered the Government's rehabilitation package. An unnamed Meghalaya Police official said the Government has laid down guidelines that only in exceptional and deserving cases militants who surrender without arms and ammunition may be considered for rehabilitation under the Government package. However, most of the recent surenderees who did not deposit arms and ammunition, the official maintains, were far from "exceptional and deserving" cases, but provided with the rehabilitation package. Only the outfit's chairman Julius K. Dorphang, who surrendered with four of his bodyguards in July 2007 without arms or ammunition, was an "exceptional case", the Police official says. The militants who surrender with at least one weapon are shifted to a transit camp and given counseling and later training on a vocation with a monthly stipend of INR 2,000 and daily perks of INR 50 as part of the rehabilitation. After three months, the surrendered activists are released and given INR 150000 in three installments over a period of six months for self-rehabilitation and joining the mainstream. "The Government policy is okay, but the militants are trying to take the money and many go back to their old ways indulging in extortion and intimidation," the Police official adds. Apart from the rehabilitation package, the Government has laid down monetary incentives for laying down arms and ammunition during surrender. Deposit of a rocket launcher fetches a militant INR 25,000, while an AK-assault rifle INR 15,000. The other incentives include INR 10,000 for a deposited carbine or SLR, INR 5,000 for a stengun and long-range wireless set. INR 3,000 each would be given for laying down .303 rifle, pistol, revolver or any other service weapon, remote control device and improvised explosive device. INR 1,000 for a rocket, short-range wireless set, explosive material and INR 500 for each grenade deposited are the other Government incentives.
April 13: The HNLC calls for a 24-hour general shutdown in protest against the visit of the president of the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, to address a public meeting at Shillong, for the elections scheduled to be held in Meghalaya on April 16.
April 6: Two HNLC militants, Andreas Sangma alias Bush and his wife Angelina Shylla, surrender before Police at Shillong. Andreas along with seven others joined the HNLC in 2001. They had undergone arms training at Chittagong Hills Tract in Bangladesh. Angelina along with another girl, Rishalin Syiemlieh, joined the outfit in 2003. Angelina reveals that Rishalin and another girl from Mawlai called "Bih Rit" are still in Bangladesh.
March 31: Sentinel reports that illegal traders along the Khasi-Jaintia hills are victims of an extortion drive carried out by the HNLC. The report states that after the Police's success in curbing extortion activities of the proscribed outfit, the HNLC has now begun focusing on local traders across the India-Bangladesh border.
March 10: A 'corporal' of the HNLC, identified as Kordor Lyngdoh Mawlong alias Sumar, surrenders before the Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills District. He reportedly joined the outfit in 2002 and underwent arms training at the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh.
March 1: Three HNLC female cadres surrender before the Superintendent of Police of Jaintia Hills District, M.K. Singh, at Dawki. They are identified as Josephine Rynjah, Kalbi Dora Snaitang and Philda Shylla. They reportedly received arms training at Chittagong in Bangladesh, and used to stay at Lamapunji and Maulwi Bazaar areas in the neighbouring country.
February 22: A civilian, Kolar Suting, is shot at and injured by five suspected HNLC militants at his residence in Mawriang in the East Khasi Hills District.
February 12: A 25 year-old woman cadre of the HNLC, identified as Marbilas Syiemlieh, surrenders before the East Khasi Hills District Police in capital Shillong. She revealed that economic hardship in the HNLC camps in Bangladesh forced her to return to the mainstream. Marbilas was attached to the 'Army Wing' of the HNLC and had undergone arms training in Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh since 2003. She hails from Manad village under Mawkyrwat Sub-Division in the West Khasi Hills District and is reported to have said that the HNLC is facing a serious financial crisis.
January 23: The HNLC has called for a boycott of the Republic Day (January 26) celebrations in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills areas.
January 4: A NDFB cadre, Guatam Boro, is arrested after being injured in an encounter with Police in Shohksih coal mining area of Jaintia Hills District a day earlier, subsequently succumbs to his injury. Guatam, hailing from Churachi village of Nalbari District in Assam, is involved along with other militants of the HNLC in extortion drive in coalfields of Jaintia Hills District.

2008

December 20: A HNLC sympathiser, Pilot Shylla, is arrested from Brishyrnot village of Jaintia Hills District. "An SBBL gun was also recovered from his possession," said Police. Shylla confesses to have supported the militant outfit by providing information about the movement of Police in Jaintia Hills.
December 5: Police foil an extortion drive of the HNLC in the Borsora –Nongjri-Nonghyllam coal belts — following interception of calls from Bangladesh. The HNLC leadership, based in Bangladesh, sent three cadres to Borosra-Nongjri areas for the collection drive but they were arrested by the police on December 1. According to police sources, the trio was asked to collect extortion money from the coal barons, and it was confirmed on the basis of the phone calls intercepted by a senior cadre, identified as Alex Hahshah. "Alex Hahshah made calls to the prominent exporters in Borsora-Nongjri area asking them to pay around Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh each", stated the Police sources, adding, "This was revealed by the arrested HNLC cadres during the course of interrogation." Alex Hahshah hailed from Nongjri area and he had all the phone numbers of the coal traders and exporters. The report adds that following a break of some time, the HNLC had launched its extortion drive in the coal belts of West Khasi Hills along the India-Bangladesh border, after the three platoons of the State Police Battalion were withdrawn from Nonghyllam, 25 miles and Rajaju in November 2008.
December 3: A senior cadre of the HNLC, identified as Marshal Roy Kharkongor alias Bah Arol, surrenders before Umkiang police at Jowai in the Jaintia Hills district. During the course of his interrogation, Marshal confesses that he had joined HNLC in 2001 and had completed three months training at Chittagong in Bangladesh. He is a resident of Madanriting in capital Shillong. He further discloses that the group of five cadres had entered Jaintia Hills through Hingaria village bordering Bangladesh and had halted at Umsona-Raja for about two weeks. Marshal, finding an opportunity, deserts his fellow cadres and surrenders before the police.
November 25: A cadre of the 'finance wing' of the HNLC, identified as Wanpalei Ryngkhlem alias Palei, is arrested by the Meghalaya Police from Polo area in capital Shillong. Police said the outfit is conducting an extortion drive in various parts of Shillong. The modus operandi, according to police, is that HNLC 'authorises' certain people to collect money and then send it to its leaders who are camping in Bangladesh. The coal belt regions in Jaintia Hills and West Khasi Hills are the other areas where the HNLC has launched extortion drive to fill its coffers. Police sources say the HNLC had struck deals with the NSCN and NDFB for such a drive. The report adds that top HNLC leaders holed up in Bangladesh are reportedly facing severe crisis of cash and cadres, forcing them to join hands with the NSCN and NDFB and rope in certain individuals who can help the Khasi outfit in extorting money from businessmen, coal traders and others in the State.
November 12: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) extends the ban on HNLC by two years for its involvement in many recent cases of militancy in Meghalaya. The ban is also extended on ULFA and NDFB for their involvement in October 30 serial bomb blasts. The existing ban on the HNLC expires on November 15. Over the years, the Centre has banned 34 militant outfits, of which 13 belong to the Northeast.
November 3: Meghalaya Police arrest 'second lieutenant' of the HNLC, identified as Shandor Phanbuh alias Antony, from Jingkieng Mawlai. Shandor is also the 'camp commander' of the outfit in Chittagong Hill tracts of Bangladesh. The report adds that the arrested militant along with two other cadres of the NDFB had infiltrated into India before the Durga Puja (a Hindu Festival). All the three had even abducted a Guwahati-based trader and confined him at an unspecified place in the Ri-Bhoi district. Later, the trader was released after the relatives paid a huge amount of ransom as demanded by the trio, which was equally shared by them.
October 24: The HNLC 'publicity secretary' Sainkupar Nongtraw, rejects the talks offer made by Meghalaya Director General of Police B. K. Dey Sawian, who has recently stated that the doors are open for the Khasi outfit to come to the negotiating table. "HNLC has no agenda to hold talks with the State Government or its Police Department as they are only actors of the Indian Puppet Government," Nongtraw says. He adds that the State Government's invitation to HNLC for talks was aimed at creating "mistrust and confusion among the people." The HNLC says that it had sent a letter to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2003 offering to hold talks, adding the outfit was yet to get a reply from the Centre. The report adds that the HNLC had earlier prioritised six points to be included in the cease-fire agreement with the Centre. They include lifting of the ban on the outfit, talks in a "neutral" country with safe passage to its cadres, supporters and sympathisers and a transparent agenda for talks.
October 15: A HNLC cadre, Kyntiew Kupar War, surrenders before Meghalaya Police at Dawki. He is involved in a number of extortion ceases in the coal belt region at Lyngngam in the West Khasi Hills district. According to police source, Kyntiew joined the HNLC in 2001 and received arms training at Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. Later in 2007, he was shifted to West Khasi Hills.
October 6: A HLNC cadre, Bantei Sohtun alias Pyrkhat, surrenders before the Border Security Force (BSF) Inspector General P.K. Mishra in the Shillong city. He is involved in abduction and extortion in the East Khasi Hills district. He had joined the outfit in 2003, and had undergone arms training along with four others in Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. After completion of his training, he was asked to stay with a few other members of HNLC at a Khasi village in Bangladesh. Bantei said the struggle to earn his livelihood forced him to come overground. P.K. Mishra says HNLC was still operating from its camps at Islapunji, Baramchal, Nooncherapunji, Panai, Amoli, Rangki, Begunchera, Nirlapunji and Niharpunji/Nihari under Maulavi Bazar district of Bangladesh.
September 16: The HNLC opposes the municipal elections in Shillong. The outfit states that with the traditional institutions like the rangbah shnong (headman) already existing in Shillong, there is no question of having another authority.
August 28: One HNLC militant, Lidon Syrti, surrenders before the Border Security Force. Syrti hailed from Rattachera village under Khlehriat police station in the Jaintia Hills district. During interrogation he revealed that he was the body guard of the ‘commander-in chief’ of the HNLC, Bobby Marwine..
August 27: One HNLC cadre, Phyrnailang Swer, is arrested from a place in the Jaintia Hills district. He confessed to having extorted huge amounts of money from traders in the area. Following his confession, police recovered two Chinese 9-mm pistols and four rounds of ammunition from a place in Mankijai.
August 25: One HNLC cadre, Fullman Khongthohrem alias Dum, surrenders before the Meghalaya Police in capital Shillong. Fullman hails from Lapalang village near Dawki in the East Khasi Hills district. He had joined the outfit in 2002 and was trained in Chittagong Hills in Bangladesh. He has, however, not laid down any arms.
August 20: One surrendered HNLC militant Tyngshain Lyngdoh Sohïong, involved in the August 12 killing of his colleague Kerlang Laitstep and his brother Philip Laitstep, surrenders before the Assam Rifles.
August 18: One Pynhunlang Swer, claiming himself to be an HNLC cadre, is arrested by the Meghalaya Police on for demanding money from a trader of Jaintia Hills District. According to police sources, Pynhunlang, along with two other accomplices, have demanded INR 2500000 from a prominent businessman and citizen of Shangpung area in the name of the HNLC.
August 17: Two HNLC cadres, including one identified as Command Lytan alias Commando, are arrested by police from Shillong Club for attempting to extort money from some traders. They have demanded money from INR 300000 to INR 500000 from the traders of Jaintia Hills.
August 14: The HNLC proposes to hold talks with the Union Government on its ‘21st raising day’. The outfit’s ‘general secretary’ Cheristerfield Thangkhiew says that they were ready to initiate a dialogue with the Government to end the armed struggle, provided the Government was sincere.
August 12: The HNLC calls for a general strike from August 14 in Meghalaya in protest agonist the Independence Day celebrations on August 15.
July 10: One surrendered NDFB militant belonging to the Khasi tribe, identified as Jaklis Mawpniang alias Jimmy Momin, confesses before the Meghalaya Police during his interrogation that he was a former police constable of the first Meghalaya Police Battalion. "Mawpniang, hailing from Umsaw village of Meghalaya's Ri Bhoi district, deserted the battalion in 1983 to join the NDFB," an unnamed senior police official says. Mawpniang became the NDFB 'area commander' in Assam's Kokrajhar district and later became a trainer for the HNLC in Chittagong Hills Tracts in Bangladesh. "According to our information, he is the only Khasi in the NDFB outfit though there are many Garos in the NDFB and Ulfa," the official said.
July 24: The HNLC said that the black flag march of the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) to protest the abduction of its circle president Fairshall Kongwang was a "blind experience." Denying its involvement in the abduction and killing of the student leader, the HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw, in a statement to the press, stated that the KSU must understand that the surrendered cadres and the police have hatched a 'game plan.' The student body observed June 23 as black flag day protesting the abduction of Kongwang, who disappeared from Shyiap, a picnic spot near the Indo-Bangladesh border on December 16, 2007.
June 29 : Two HNLC militants, who infiltrate from their hideouts in Bangladesh, are arrested from Mawkyrwat village in the West Khasi Hills district. One revolver and five live rounds of .22 ammunition, cellphone and incriminating documents are recovered from their possession. Police say both the militants were sent to India by their outfit to extort money from coal exporters and other businessmen in the district.
June 12: Four surrendered cadres of the HNLC confess that Phershal Khongwang, Dawki unit president of the Khasi Students' Union (KSU), was abducted and later killed by HNLC cadre, Hep Khoit, along with two of his accomplices, Bol Khonglah and Jop Lamin, in Bangladesh in 2007. The HNLC cadres also unsuccessfully tried to kill former Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) chief H.S. Shylla.
June 6: Four HNLC cadres, who were earlier remanded to police custody, are released for "lack of evidence". They were arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Tripura while entering Indian territory from Bangladesh without passport on May 16. They later revealed that they had deserted a HNLC camp in Bangladesh to surrender before the government.
May 31: Intelligence sources said that seven former Naga insurgents, who deserted the NSCN–IM and NSCN-K, continue to maintain links with the HNLC and LAEF to extort money from coal exporters and other traders in the coal belts of West Khasi Hills and Garo Hills. "The Naga men normally go back to their State after collecting huge amount of money through extortion in Meghalaya," the sources say. Intelligence sources also said that former NSCN cadres involved in extortion in Meghalaya were planning to form a new militant outfit that could be more powerful than the NSCN-IM and NSCN-K. Many coal exporters from and outside the State have incurred huge losses due to the ongoing extortion drive jointly launched by cadres of the NSCN, HNLC and LAEF. Militants’ threat is reported to have forced several coal exporters to leave the coal belt areas recently. There are reports that the Tripura-based NLFT was supporting the HNLC's extortion drive in the district where coal exporters and managers of various cement plants were made to pay money to militants.
May 29: Surrendered ANVC cadres asked the Meghalaya Government to provide them with recruitment in 5th India Reserve Battalion and monetary assistance. They also alleged that the former State Government did not have the commitment to rehabilitate all surrendered insurgents. They say that the previous D.D. Lapang-led Government had given "more importance" to the Shillong-based former cadre of the HNLC than those from the Garo Hills. The former ANVC cadres have sought Government jobs for at least 25 of them and financial assistance for the others to start their own entrepreneurship.
May 26: Meghalaya Police said that militants belonging to the BW, HNLC and NLFT have demanded huge amounts of ransom from several cement companies in the Jaintia Hills district.
May 21: Meghalaya Police arrests one hardcore HNLC cadre, Banteiborlang Lyngdoh Nonglait, from the coal belt areas at Nongjri near Borsora in the West Khasi Hills district. He was arrested while entering the export coal depot belonging to one Control Marbaniang. Ten live ammunitions of AK-47 are seized from his possession. According to police sources, he had recently returned from Bangladesh to carry out an extortion drive in the coal belt areas.
May 16: The HNLC says in an e-mail statement that it has expelled four of its cadres, Heplung alias Judas, Mardor, Baiar, Pyndap alias Morning and Raimon, for allegedly 'breaching' the model code of conduct of the outfit.

Four HNLC cadres are arrested by the Border Security Force personnel at Joshitilla village in the Dhalai district of Tripura along the India-Bangladesh border. They confessed that they deserted their camp in the Moulavibazaar district of Bangladesh following acute shortage of food and medicine. They also mentioned that 182 HNLC cadres are now staying in that camp.
April 5: One HNLC cadre, Ossomon Rynjah alias Belu, is arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel from Andermanik border outpost in the Mamit district while trying to cross over to Mizoram from Bangladesh. He confessed that the HNLC has maintained links with the Tripura-based NLFT since 2001. He also stated that the strength of HNLC in the Bangladesh camp located under Baghachuri police station in the Rangamati district was about 100 in 2001. As many as 26 NLFT cadres also stayed in the HNLC camp at that time, he added. Rynjah confessed that since most of the cadres deserted the camp the strength has been reduced to 26, and the camp is left with one .303 rifle. He said that he deserted the camp due to forced labour detention and ill treatment by the HNLC commanders.
April 3 Meghalaya Police arrested six persons, including rangbah shnongs (members of the traditional local-self government institutions) and businessmen, from different parts of the Jaintia Hills district for their suspected links with the HNLC. They were identified as Phon Syih, Welcome Dkhar, Lambha Dhar, Susil Dkhar, Pyntngen Bareh and Rangbahduh Khonglah. According to police sources, they were arrested following confession of the HNLC militants who were arrested during the recent encounter at Wahlymbong. They are accused of giving shelter, money and other goods to the HNLC cadres. Two arrested HNLC cadres, Willender Diengdoh Marngar and Riskin Phawa, had reportedly collected INR 50000 from them.
March 30: The Superintendent of Police (Special Branch), Claudia A. Lyngwa, while terming the HNLC as "an organisation of a few vested interests," said that deteriorating cadre strength of the outfit had forced it to join hands with the Tripura-based NLFT. She stated that the outfit's cadre strength could be between 70 and 80, including a few senior members camping in Bangladesh. "These (few) vested interests (HNLC activists) are very much aware that they are losing their strength every day and the best option for them is to surrender," she said, adding, "Deteriorating cadre strength has forced HNLC to join hands with the NLFT."
March 27: The HNLC 'camp commander' at Chittagong Hill Tract, Syrpailin Mawlong, is arrested at Umkiang in the Jaintia Hills district. He confesses before police that the outfit was facing a funds crisis and he had been asked by his leaders to carry out an extortion drive in the Jaintia Hills. He also said that after the surrender of former Chairman Julius Dorphang, the outfit is yet to nominate any other leader as the chairman. He added that 100 cadres, including eight to nine women, were based in Bangladesh.

Two HNLC militants, Vicky Majaw and Leader, are shot dead by Meghalaya Police during an encounter at Umkiang in the Jaintia Hills district. However, three NLFT militants who along with the HNLC militants opened fire on the police personnel manage to escape from the encounter site. Four SBBL shot guns, two AK-56 assault rifles and 33 rounds of live ammunition, a country-made .22 revolver, two Chinese hand grenades and two sets of Japanese-made wireless handsets, three torches, a mobile handset and two authorisation letters for extortion were recovered from the encounter site. According to police sources, the HNLC and NLFT ran a joint camp at Wahlymbong for about two months to extort money from coal traders and businessmen of Jaintia Hills. The encounter occurred when police raided a militant hideout in the Umkiang area following the arrest of six HNLC militants, including an 'area commander' Syrpailin Mawlong alias Bhalang, and a courier Riskin Phawa, during a search operation in Malidor area and Umkiang village on March 26. Four others were identified as Emanuel Umthlu alias Shwa, L. Marngar alias Willinder Marngar, Aibor Sawian and Chedrak Wanniang.
March 19: One HNLC militant, identified as Gedolf Nongrem of Mawkhar, surrendered before the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Umsyiem border outpost near Dawki. During interrogation, Nongrem told the BSF that he, along with five others, was lured by one HNLC activist Lungtung of Mawlai to join the banned outfit and had undergone arms training at an HNLC camp in Chittagong, Bangladesh. "I left for Bangladesh in June 2003 and underwent training along with others, including eight female activists, at an HNLC camp in Chittagong," Nongrem said.
March 14: The surrendered HNLC militants decide to ask the Meghalaya Government for general amnesty. The decision was taken at the first meeting of the surrendered militants, chaired by its former chairman Julius Dorphang, at Mawlong. "We have decided to urge the Centre and the state to grant general amnesty to all the surrendered HNLC militants. We want the government to provide a better rehabilitation package to prevent them from going astray," Dorphang said. There are more than 100 surrendered HNLC militants in capital Shillong. "Most of these boys are poor and are finding it difficult to sustain themselves," he said, adding that many of them are yet to receive the rehabilitation package. Dorphang said. He also refuted allegations that the surrendered HNLC militants had campaigned for the ruling Congress party in the recently-concluded legislative Assembly elections. "The allegations are not true. The surrendered militants were free to support any candidate," he added.
February 27: Normal life in the capital Shillong and other parts of the State was affected due to a general strike called by the HNLC in protest against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's State visit.
January 26: The HNLC calls for a 24-hour strike in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in protest against the celebration of the Republic Day.
January 24: The 'publicity secretary' of the HNLC, Sainkupar Nongtraw, accuses some politicians of playing the 'religious card' to win the elections. The outfit asked the church bodies to initiate steps to prevent such activities.

2007

December 30: Meghalaya Police stated that Phersial Kongwang, the Khasi Students Union's (KSU) Dawki Circle president, was abducted and later taken to Bangladesh by the HNLC militants. "We have thoroughly investigated the matter. We have no doubt that HNLC men have taken the victim (Mr Kongwang) to Bangladesh," police say. Police add that HNLC cadre, Bah Hep alias Hep Khoit, and two other unidentified armed persons were involved in the abduction
. December 28: One surrendered HNLC cadre, Stephan Rymbai, is arrested from his rented house at Salini Colony in Mihmyntdu of Jaintia Hills district. Police said that Rymbai had been involved in a number of crimes even after he came over-ground.
December 26: Meghalaya Police said that the HNLC is being helped by the NLFT in Jaintia Hills, the NSCN-IM in West Khasi Hills and the NDFB in areas of Ri-Bhoi district. The HNLC's declining manpower and continued failure to start an extortion drive in Shillong city has forced the outfit to seek help of other outfits and extort money from businessmen, especially coal traders, in other districts of the State bordering Bangladesh. "The firepower of HNLC is less at present and the outfit cannot buy more weapons due to financial constraints. It has to borrow arms from other militant groups," said an unnamed source.
December 19: The surrendered ‘chairman’ of the HNLC, Julius Dorphang, said that the HNLC maintains a fleet of boats to ferry ration and other items to its cadres at their camps in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Dorphang also said that since the Chittagong Hill Tracts is surrounded by deep jungles and criss-crossed by rivers, a boat was the easiest mode of transport. He added that most of the items were collected from different places from where they were taken to loading points along the Feni, Karnaphuli, Sangu (Sankhu) and Matamuhuri rivers. From the offloading points, the ration was carried to the camps.

One HNLC cadre, who had escaped during the December 17 police raid on the camp jointly set up by the HNLC and NLFT inside Narpuh Reserve Forest of Jaintia Hills, surrenders before East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, A.R. Mawthoh.
December 17 Meghalaya Police neutralizes a joint camp of the HNLC and the NLFT during an operation at Narpuh reserve forest in the Jaintia Hills. A number of 9-mm live cartridges, .22 live cartridges, one very high frequency handset, six micro cassettes, a prescription of a Bangladeshi doctor, photographs, a diary and four butts of AK-56 rifles are recovered. However, no arrests were made.
December 15: Meghalaya Police stated that one suspected HNLC militant, while trying to hijack a Jeep belonging to a coal exporter, Milan Khongsit, was assaulted by civilians at Mawngap in the East Khasi Hills district.
December 7: Nagaland Post reports that the Meghalaya Police has launched a flush-out operation targeting HNLC extortionists in the coal belt area.
December 6: Shillong Times, quoting intelligence sources, reports that the HNLC has resumed its extortion drive in the coal belt of Borsora in the West Khasi Hills district. The HNLC demanded INR 500000 from coal exporters owning ten or more trucks. Those having five and more than five trucks were asked to pay ransom between INR 250000 to 300000.
November 24: Shillong Times reports that at least eight senior cadres of the HNLC will desert their camp in Bangladesh and come overground and surrender in protest against the system of functioning and policy of the HNLC 'commander-in-chief' Bobby Marwein.
November 19: Shillong Times reports that the Meghalaya Police are investigating the alleged nexus between teer (a traditional form of gambling that sustains the age-old sport of archery) bookies and the HNLC, which reportedly helps the militant outfit to strengthen its coffer. After a gap of four years, Meghalaya Police have reopened the file related to the teer bookies-HNLC nexus. Police had unearthed the nexus between teer bookies and HNLC in 2003 and arrested some office bearers of the Archery Sports Association. Four years later, the file, in this regard, was reopened following the encounter on October 30 at Cleve Colony in which five HNLC militants were killed. Manbha Rynjah, one of the slain militants, was a teer bookie and contractor.
November 11: Meghalaya Police said that the NDFB has continued to help the HNLC since 2005 by supplying weapons to the outfit. They claimed that the HNLC militants, who are camping in Paham-Umdoh forest, maintain links with the NDFB. An unnamed senior police official stated: "NDFB leaders used to make periodic visits to the make-shift camps of the HNLC in the Ri-Bhoi district". .
November 7: Deputy Superintendent of Police Raymond P. Diengdoh was killed when a team of police personal attacked a HNLC hideout at Paham Umdoh forest near Byrnihat in the Ri-Bhoi district. One militant, identified as Salin alias Jockey, of Mawsynram in the East Khasi Hills district, was also killed in the encounter. Police arrested two HNLC cadres, Sharailang Raiwan and Andy Lyngdoh, from the encounter site. Two Kalashnikov rifles, a pistol and some cartridges are recovered from the incident site.
November 6: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) chief, H.S. Shylla, accuses the non governmental organisations and a political party of having nexus with the HNLC. The KHADC chief accused the Khasi Students’ Union, the Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement party of having a nexus with the outfit.
November 4: Meghalaya Police stated that the HNLC is using women as agents to extort money from places where the finance wing of the organisation fails to penetrate. "Even after the arrest of a few women who worked for the HNLC in the past, some women are still helping the outfit in collecting money in Shillong and Dawki in Jaintia Hills," a senior unnamed police official disclosed. He said that before going on an extortion drive, the women make ‘missed calls’ to top HNLC leaders based in Bangladesh, who help them with ways and means to negotiate the amount. A prepaid mobile phone having a balance of INR 800 to INR 900 is used by the women to send "missed calls" to Bangladesh. The report adds that the arrest of a woman, Velvet Rose Jana, who accompanied HNLC militants to assassinate HS Shylla, the Chief Executive Member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, in August 20074, has revealed that she had extorted money on behalf of the outfit from businessmen. She confesses to have worked in tandem with her husband, Tome Jones Rynjah, to spread the activities of the HNLC, including extortion in Shillong. Police had arrested the couple from Mawlai Syllaikriah locality of Shillong for their role in leading the HNLC cadres to the house of Shylla. According to A.R. Mawthoh, the Superintendent of Police of the East Khasi Hills district, the HNLC courier recently sent INR 400, 000 to Bobby Marwein, ‘commander-in-chief’ of the outfit, who is based in Bangladesh.

October 30: Five HNLC militants, one of them identified as Safir Hashah, are shot dead by police personnel during an encounter at Cleave Colony under Laitumkhrah police station in the East Khasi Hills district. The incident occurs when a police team tries to intercept a vehicle carrying the militants. Two police personnel are also injured in the exchange of fire. An AK-47 rifle, a double barrel gun, a single barrel gun, one grenade and some ammunition are recovered from the slain militants. The East Khasi Hills district Superintendent of Police, A.R. Mawthoh, informs that the militants entered Meghalaya from Bangladesh to kill the outfit's surrendered chairman, Julius Dorphang.
October 29: One courier of the HNLC, Rimen Rymbai, is arrested by police personnel at Dawki in the Jaintia Hills District. Rymbai was sent by his seniors from Bangladesh to collect the demanded amount from a prominent businessman of Dawki. Sources add that Rymbai hails from Lamapunji under Gowainghat police station in the Sylhet district of Bangladesh.
October 29: Two HNLC cadres, Rajesh Lamin and Lyli Lamin, surrender before the East Khasi Hills district-Superintendent of Police.
October 17: Meghalaya Police chief, B.K. Dey Sawian, said that the HNLC is carrying out an extortion drive at Laitumkhrah and Nongthymmai areas in capital Shillong. He also stated that though the cadre strength of the HNLC is reducing, the possibility of the outfit's cadres regrouping cannot be ruled out.
September 11: Two persons, identified as Wanwarting Pathaw alias Perry and Suk Nongrang, are arrested from Nongmynsong in capital Shillong. They are involved in the September 9-abduction of John Alex Dohkrud, the brother of a surrendered HNLC cadre Amos Dohkrud, from Lad Mawlai Motsyiar.
August 24: Meghalaya Police arrest the mother of Bobby Marwein, the 'commander-in-chief of HNLC, from an unspecified place in the East Khasi Hills district. Superintendent of Police A.R. Mawthoh said, "The police are investigating the involvement of Marwein's mother, wife and Thangkhiew's sister in the extortion racket."
August 23: Police arrests the sister of Cherishstarfield Thangkhiew, 'general secretary' of the HNLC, and wife of Bobby Marwein, 'commander-in-chief'' of the same outfit, for their involvement in extortion at Jaiaw Langsning in the East Khasi Hills district.
August 22: Police arrest a HNLC cadre, identified as Phrangsngi Hahshah, from Motphran in the East Khasi Hills district. He is suspected to be the linkman behind the extortion drive of the outfit.
August 21: Five HNLC cadres, while extorting from traders, are arrested at Dawki in the Jaintia Hills District. They were identified as Ispon Khonglah, Donbok Kongwang, Teiborlang Kongwang, Dominic Rangjem and Wansalan Khonglah.
August 21: Four suspected HNLC cadres are arrested from various parts of the capital Shillong. They came from Bangladesh recently to carry out an extortion drive.
August 16: One senior HNLC cadre, Aral Mango alias Heh, surrenders before the Ri-Bhoi district Superintendent of Police J. Rymmai. Heh was reportedly a linkman between the HNLC and NDFB.
August 15: The HNLC expresses its willingness to sit for tripartite talks involving both the Union and State governments. 'General Secretary' Cheristerfield Thangkhiew said in a statement on the 20th raising day of the HNLC that the group was keen to end bloodshed and is willing to sit for talks.
August 12: The HNLC calls for a 24-hour bandh (strike) from August 14 in protest against the Independence Day celebrations on August 15. A statement issued by the outlawed group’s ‘publicity secretary’ Sainkupar Nongtraw said that it would continue its "20-year-old armed struggle for political and socio-economic development of the people". The strike exempts patients and hospital attendants and milkmen from its purview.
August 6: The HNLC ‘publicity secretary’ Sainkupar Nongtraw alleged that ‘chairman’ Julius Dorphang, who had recently surrendered, had been bought over by Chief Minister D. D. Lapang. A statement said that by coming over-ground, Dorphang had undermined his own position as a top leader of the outfit. "Dorphang must know the kind of action that the HNLC would take against deserters who took away its properties," the HNLC statement added. It also said that by surrendering, Dorphang had ‘stabbed the HNLC from the back’. The HNLC also said that Dorphang is earlier authorized by the outfit's leadership to speak to Lapang over phone regarding the peace initiative "but the outfit did not expect that he would be bought over by Lapang to the extent that he deserted his own colleagues."
August 3: A surrendered HNLC cadre, Bitkhotal Khongkip, who disrupted the Elector's Photo Identity Card programme at Nongskhen village in the East Khasi Hills district on July 30, is arrested by the police from an unspecified location.
August 2: The surrendered ‘Chairman’' of the HNLC, Julius Dorphang, has decided to resign from the top post of the group. He admitted that personality conflicts among the top HNLC leaders had eroded the image of the group. Dorphang, however, denied the allegations made by the HNLC of taking away INR 20 million before his surrender and also rejected other charges of selling weapons and assets of the outfit.
August 1: The Deputy Commissioner of the East Khasi Hills district, Bhalang Dhar, ordered the police to arrest surrendered HNLC cadre, Bitkophal Khongkip, for his alleged misbehaviour with the Election department officials during an electorate photo identity card programme at Nongskhen in the East Khasi Hills district.

The HNLC ‘publicity secretary’, Sainkupar Nongtraw, in a press statement alleged that the surrendered chairman of the group, Julius Dorphang, has decamped with the outfit's money amounting to INR 20 million. He added that Dorphang has sold away properties of the organization, including the arms of his security personnel. The statement also denied Dorphang's claim that the HNLC general secretary and 'Commander-in-Chief' did not understand the meaning of peace.
July 24: Julius K. Dorphang, chairman of the outlawed HNLC, along with his four bodyguards, identified as Teilang Wanniang, Salonsar Thongni, Bima Suting and Rit Lakashiang, surrendered to the security forces at an unspecified location in the capital city of Shillong. Dorphang accepted an offer of safe passage from the State Government and decided to join the mainstream, indicating a major setback to the Khasi outfit formed in 1988. However, no weapon is deposited by the HNLC cadres. Dorphang and the four cadres arrived in Shillong on July 23-night by road through Lyngkhat village near the India-Bangladesh border under tight police security.
May 28: One HNLC cadre, identified as Trustman Roy Lyngdoh Nonglait belonging to the Mawlai Kynton Massar area, surrendered before the police at an unspecified location.
May 23: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal extended the ban on the ANVC and HNLC for two more years due to their continued anti-national and anti-social activities. The new order will remain in force till May 15, 2009.
May 17: One Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) cadre, identified as 'sergeant major' Andy Roy Lartang alias Bahdeng, surrendered to the security forces at an unspecified location.
May 7: Two surrendered HNLC cadres, Mayborn Rapthap and Victor Rumnong, are booked under the Meghalaya Prevention Detention Act for their suspected involvement in cases of abduction and murder.

A woman cadre of the HNLC, identified as Lanosha Kharkulia, surrenders before A.R. Mawthoh, the Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills district.
April 14: Six HNLC cadres, identified as Kitbakmar Baniang, Amos Khamnaior, Teidur Kharsahnoh, Orrissal Ynsatlang, Ricky Kharjana and his wife Baitbianglen, surrender before the Border Security Force at Panisagar in the North Tripura district of Tripura.

The two-day meeting of the Tribunal to look into the ban on the HNLC and ANVC concludes. Official sources said that there was no representation from the HNLC and only the ANVC contested the case aiming at lifting the proscription.
April 12: Three surrendered HNLC cadres, Khainborlang Kharwaniang, Mayborn Rapthap and Victor Rumnong, were arrested from different parts of the Shillong city in connection with the abduction of six persons on February 22.
February 20: Two HNLC cadres, Lord Canning Thongni and Everywell Leroy, who surrendered in Shillong confessed that they used to hand over the extortion money to a Bangladeshi national, Abdus Salam. Police suspect that the top HNLC leaders are using Bangladeshi nationals as couriers to bring extortion money, since they had lost faith in the lower rung cadres. Superintendent of Police of the East Khasi Hills district, A. R. Mawthoh, disclosed that around 130 militants had so far surrendered in East Khasi Hills. "More and more cadres are leaving the outfit as the extorted money has been pocketed by the top leaders," Mawthoh added.
February 10: Nine HNLC militants, including its senior leader Herman Pakyntein, surrender along with a rifle and two shot guns at Panisagar in the North Tripura district of Tripura. They escaped from their hideout in Bangladesh. According to police sources, the present cadre strength of the HNLC is estimated to be around 60 to 70, following the surrender.
January 2: A court in the East Khasi Hills district remands a former HNLC cadre, Samborlang Kharlyngdoh, to three-day police custody. Jhalupara police arrested him a day earlier for illegally possessing a 9-mm pistol along with six rounds of ammunition.

2006

December 25: An extortionist, Asuk Amyrsong, is arrested from Kharkhana village in the Jaintia Hills district along the India-Bangladesh border. However, two others manage to escape. They reportedly served extortion notes of INR 25,000 to a lady, Mala Pohlong, in the guise of HNLC cadres.
December 20: One HNLC cadre, Aimos Khonglaban, surrenders at Pynursla police station in the East Khasi Hills district.
November 27: A HNLC cadre, Tensing Khonglah, surrenders before the Superintendent of Police of Shillong City. According to police sources, Khonglah was operating from Sanatula near Silchar in the Cachar district of Assam.
November 20: Responding to the offer made by the HNLC for peace talks with the Union Government, the Meghalaya Home Minister, Robert G. Lyngdoh, stated that the State Government should be involved in the peace talks "so that it won't be held responsible for any failure in the process." "We are ready to hold talks at any moment and our door for negotiation is always open. But the talks should be a tripartite one like what was done with the ANVC," he added.
November 9: The Union Government extends the proscription on HNLC.
October 31: HNLC has started setting up camps at Block I in the Karbi Anlong district of Assam. Reports added that five hardcore cadres belonging to the "Action Group (Army Wing)" of the outfit set up a camp in Assam.
October 4: A senior HNLC cadre, Mon Pohrmen, who was the 'commander' of the camp at Panai in Bangladesh, surrenders before Meghalaya Police at Jowai in the Jaintia Hills district. He deposits some sample demand notes before the police.
September 28: A HNLC cadre, Dap Singh Ritshong alias Syrpai, surrenders before the Meghalaya Police at an unspecified place.
September 25: Meghalaya Police recover dead bodies of two former HNLC cadres, Philio Hashah and his brother Anthony Hashah, from Wah Khri near Mairang in the West Khasi Hills district. They were killed en route to appear in the district court for a pending case relating to their earlier linkages with the HNLC.
September 25: Meghalaya Police arrests a HNLC cadre, Tom Jones Rynjah, from Mawlai Syllaikriah in the capital Shillong, and seizes some incriminating documents from his possession.
September 20: A HNLC cadre, Krinding Lyngdoh, surrenders before the Meghalaya Police at an unspecified location. According to police sources, the surrendered militant, who confessed to having recently returned from Bangladesh, did not deposit any arms.
September 20: Meghalaya Police kills a HNLC cadre, Bankit Khonjee, and arrests another during an encounter at Umkrem in the East Khasi Hills district. A modified sten gun of 9 mm caliber, one 9 mm carbine, 40 rounds of ammunition and eight empty cases of assorted ammunition are recovered from the incident site. Following the incident, one surrendered HNLC cadre is also arrested for sheltering the HNLC cadres.
September 10: The Union Government authorises the Meghalaya Government to directly negotiate with the HNLC. Meanwhile, State Chief Minister J. D. Rymbai and Home Minister R. G. Lyngdoh ask the cadres of the outfit to give up arms and return to the mainstream.
August 30: Disillusioned women cadres of the HNLC, who are in an isolated camp in Bangladesh and are desperate to leave the outfit to join the main stream, are reportedly being prevented from deserting the militant camp. At least eight women cadres, including six from Shillong and West Khasi Hills and two from Pynursla in East Khasi Hills, have remained in Bangladesh, according to police sources. "But they are prevented by their top leaders," police say.
July 15: A HNLC cadre, Diam Salon, surrenders at Jowai police station in the Jaintia Hills district. The surrendered militant escaped from his camp in Bangladesh.
July 6: At least 435 HNLC cadres were killed, surrendered or arrested by the police personnel so far, says Inspector General of Police, B. L. Buam. Out of the total, 289 were arrested, 27 died in encounters, while 119 surrendered.
June 29: At least three HNLC militants, including one of their leaders identified as Khrawbor Lartang alias Kordor, Lumbor Nongneng alias Pdit and Precious Star Lamare alias Kos, surrender before the East Khasi Hills district police in Shillong, the State capital.
June 25: At least ten HNLC cadres, who surrender in the North Tripura district of Tripura on June 21, are brought back and remanded to ten-day police custody at Shillong, the State capital.
june 23: Two unidentified HNLC cadres are shot dead in an encounter with the police at Nonghyllam near Nongjri village in the West Khasi Hills district. While another militant manages to escape, one carbine, one pistol and few rounds of ammunitions are recovered from the encounter site. According to intelligence reports, the HNLC militants infiltrated into the Indian territory from Bangladesh.
June 21: At least ten HNLC cadres, including a senior leader, surrender before the Border Security Force personnel at an unspecified place in the North Tripura district of Tripura. The surrendered militants, who desert their camp in Bangladesh, were identified as West Syngkli, Bamut-lang Chyne, Coverland Lar-tang, Oswald Nengnong, Erest Wanshnong, George Tang-sang, Peter Kharmawphlang, Fullmoon Nongsiej, Shemphang Syiem-iong and Larsemson Jala.
June 19: Two suspected HNLC cadres, Minot and Tensing, are arrested at an unspecified place under Halidayganj police station in the Dhubri district along the India-Bangladesh border, while infiltrating.
June 15: Two HNLC cadres, Minit Lang and Tensing Khngla, are arrested by the BSF personnel near Makamtilla under Patherkandi block in the Karimganj district while crossing the India- Bangladesh border. Both reportedly were trying to reach the Khasi hills of Meghalaya through the adjoining Cachar district. They reveal during interrogation that most militant outfits with camps in Bangladesh are planning to push in more cadres to the Indian territory through the border during the monsoon.
June 2: A HNLC cadre, Tibor Dkhar alias Ban, who left his hideout at Puthisara in Bangladesh, surrenders at Shillong before the Superintendent of Police of the East Khasi Hills district. An AK 47 rifle, suspected to be abandoned by the HNLC cadres, is recovered from the forest area of the North-Eastern Hill University near Mawlai.
May 31: The HNLC threatens against persons participating in the forthcoming Municipal elections at Shillong, the State capital. The outfit also expresses 'concern' about ongoing influx into the Jaintia Hills.
May 24: The MHA asks for the estimation of assets of the top leaders of the Hynniewtrep HNLC including its 'chairman' Julius K Dorphang, 'general secretary' Cherishsterfield Thangkhiew and self-styled 'Commander -in-Chief" Bobby Marwein. Official sources say that the MHA is also assessing the activities of the outfit to ensure that it does not indulge in extortion from the businessmen.
May 1 : Chief Minister D. D. Lapang says that the proposal for peace talks with the HNLC is a better option than seeing the outfit members surrendering. Lapang, while expressing the State Government's willingness to hold talks with the militant outfits, said, "There is nothing to hide and it is true that I had a telephonic conservation with HNLC Chairman Julius Dorphang on the issues related to peace talks."
April 30 : The Meghalaya Home Department says that insincerity of the 'commander-in-chief' of the HNLC is the main reason for the State Government delaying the peace process. According to Home Department sources, "We have no doubt about the sincerity of the outfit's chairman Julius K Dorphang; but we have got some doubts about Bobby Marwein, who often indulges in illegal activities despite making the initial move for peace process." The sources add that the Union and State Governments are keen to have a cease-fire with the banned outfit, but given the present situation, "both are of the view that the process should be re-examined before arriving at any decision".
April 27: The Chief Executive Member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, H. S. Shylla, criticizes the threat of the HNLC to pull out of the proposed peace talks with the Meghalaya Government in protest against the latter's permission for Uranium mining at Domiasiat in the West Khasi Hills district.
March 27: Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang, while responding to the issue of negotiations with militant outfits, informs the Legislative Assembly that a "Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) has been formed to monitor the cease-fire with the ANVC. The next JMG meeting will be held on April 5 in Guwahati, said, while adding that, "We are thinking of adopting similar pattern as the first step to initiate dialogue with HNLC."
March 27: A former HNLC cadre, Aibor Marwein, is shot at and wounded at Mawlai Nongkwar Block III in the Shillong city. Marwein was arrested in 2002 while being an active HNLC cadre.
March 24: The Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, while responding at Shillong to the issue of the reported willingness of the proscribed HNLC to negotiate with the Government, says, "Doors are open for dialogue with any militant group."
March 21: An HNLC cadre, Khrawkupar Shylla alias Khro, is arrested from Mawlai Nongk-war in the East Khasi Hills district. He confesses about the involvement of HNLC in arms smuggling in Meghalaya.
March 17: Meghalaya Director General Police, W.R. Marbaniang, says that an unspecified number of misguided youths from West Khasi Hills and other areas have joined the banned HNLC.
February 21: The Jaintia Hills district police arrest three HNLC cadres, Arwat Kharumnuid alias Jo Swer, Robert Jiteng alias Bah Bah and Khlainbor Pakyntein alias Heprit, from a camp of coal miners at Jaliaphet. However, two of them subsequently escaped from police custody.
February 21: The Church leader, Rev. Basaiawmoit, who was appointed by the State Government to broker peace with the HNLC, establishes contacts with the top leaders of the proscribed outfit and intimates about the Government's desire to have a dialogue with them. He says, "Today (Tuesday) evening, I conveyed the HNLC leadership the outcome of my meeting with the Chief Minister and the State Home Minister."
February 18: A HNLC cadre, Pynshngaiñlang Lyngdoh Mairang, surrenders before Mairang Police in the West Khasi Hills district.
February 3: A suspected HNLC cadre, who is arrested from Jowai in the Jaintia Hills district, manages to escape during an accident involving the security convoy carrying him near Mawryngkneng.
January 30: Hardcore HNLC militants take shelter in the Block-I areas along the Assam-Meghalaya border for raising funds for the outfit. The militants have reportedly sneaked into the State from Bangladesh for revitalising the outfit. A militant, Hopeborn Shangpliang, who has surrendered during the second week of January, confesses to have regrouped the militants in the Jaintia Hills district for extortion from the coal traders. A senior police officer says, “The HNLC militants chose Block-I as their area of operation so that the Meghalaya police would not be able to know about their movements.”
January 20: A HNLC militant, Hopeborn Shangpliang, surrenders before police personnel at Jowai in the Jaintia Hills district. He deposits a 9mm pistol and 10 rounds of live ammunition. Police sources say that the militant, a self-style sergeant of the outfit, had joined the HNLC in 1999. He left the outfit’s camp in Bangladesh in 2005 and since then has been operating from Psiar in Block I area of the Jaintia Hills district.
January 16: The ‘publicity secretary' of the HNLC, Sainkupar Nongtraw, expresses doubts over the seriousness of the Meghalaya Government in dealing with the issue of illegal migrants. Nongtraw claims that the action of the State police in flushing out illegal immigrants as published in newspapers is "an eyewash" and a "fashion show". He further says: “If the State and the Central governments had the responsibility to flush out immigrants who have illegally entered the State, why they took 34 years to initiate measures. May be it is the government which has provided them with land, houses, jobs and at the same time recognised them as the legal immigrants settled in Umpling, Pynthor, Mawprem and other localities of Shillong".

January 8: A senior HNLC cadre, Bashembha Pathaw, is arrested from Psiar village on the Meghalaya-Assam border in the Jaintia Hills district. Ten AK-47 ammunition are recovered from his possession.

2005

December 23: Meghalaya Police arrests ‘vice-chairman’ of the HNLC, Teilang Thangkhiew, from a hideout at Pohkseh in the capital Shillong. Police sources say that Thangkhiew returned from Bangladesh a few days back to revitalise the outfit following the arrest and surrender of more than hundred cadres during the recent years.
December 2: Church leader, Rev. Basaiawmoit, says that the proscribed HNLC is awaiting an official response either from the Prime Minister's Office or the Union Home Ministry to initiate peace talks. "After proper consultation with the Home Ministry officials I created a channel through which the HNLC was immediately contacted with the hope of ending the decade-long insurgency problem and bring peace and normalcy back to the Khasi-Jaintia Hills and the State as a whole. I have communicated HNLC's views to the Centre but the latter is yet to respond to it", he says.
November 3: HNLC is reported to be involved in extortion activities targeting coal traders of the Jaintia Hills district. The police arrest two persons, president of the Meghalaya Transporters and Suppliers Union, Jamrist Rymbai, and his colleague, Chamik Nongpluh, from Lad Rymbai for their connivance with the outfit’s extortion activities. Police sources say that the arrested persons have served an extortion note of Rupees 16 lakh (INR) on a coal merchant on behalf of the outfit.
November 1: The proscribed HNLC, in an e-mail to the local media in Meghalaya’s capital Shillong, refutes reports that speculate the surrender of the outfit’s ‘commander-in-chief’ Bobby Marwein and some other cadres. The ‘publicity secretary’ of the outfit, Sainkupar Nongkhlaw, says, "There are forces who want to create cracks in our organization and the reports are at their instance… Reports about our c-in-c’s surrender is part of the propaganda waged by the forces against the council."
September 27: Julius K Dorphang, 'chairman' of the HNLC, expresses his keenness for peace talks with the Union Government. The surrendered 'publicity secretary' of the outfit, Mihsalan Kynjing, says that HNLC has made some attempts in the past to initiate peace talks and some members of the group have reportedly met officials of the Union Home Ministry in 2004.
July 27: The surrendered ‘finance secretary’ of the HNLC, Yitjanai Sunn alias Iainehskhem Shylla, reports that 200 HNLC cadres, including 10 women, presently camping in Bangladesh, are in a state of disarray. He also claims that the outfit is going through a major financial crisis and at present it has only Rupees 20 lakh in its coffers. He also says that 20 cadres have become victims of fratricidal clashes in Bangladesh and five to six of them died due to malaria. He also confirms that there is a tie-up between the HNLC and NDFB.
July 25: Six HNLC cadres, including the outfit’s Finance Secretary Yit Sun alias Iaineh Skhem Shylla, surrender before the police in Shillong. The others are identified as Donald Wann alias Lumlang from Jaiaw Mawbynna, Elvin alias Treng Saw from Mawlai Syllaikariah, Kohbah from Mawlai Mawtawar, Hamar Ropmay alias Hep Tatoo from Mawlai Nongpdeng and Phyrnai Nongrum alias Bahlieh from Mawlai Umjaiur. The HNLC, however, in a statement issued by ‘Information Secretary’ Mangkara Dkhar claims that the six have "deserted" its temporary camp. It also charges them with indulging in misuse of power, stealing of official property and violating the principles of the outfit.
July 22: The police arrest a surrendered cadre of the HNLC, James Sylliang, from Mawlai in the capital Shillong. According to police sources, Sylliang is arrested after complaints are lodged against him for involvement in criminal activities, including extortion.
July 12: Meghalaya Police says that HNLC leaders are living safely in Bangladesh and are also involved in business activities in that country. The East Khasi Hills district Superintendent of Police, A. S. Rynjah, says, “They (leaders of the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) militant outfit), are living in safe rented houses in Dhaka, Maulavi Bazar and Panai areas." Citing intelligence inputs, he further said that insurgent leaders are also engaged in business activities by acquiring farms of betel nuts, betel and arecanut in the border villages.
July 11: Meghalaya Police rescues a trader, Mainak Dey, who was abducted two days earlier from Lawbah village in the East Khasi Hills district. Official sources said that subsequent to an encounter with HNLC cadres, he was rescued. An unidentified HNLC cadre is killed in the encounter and another is arrested while four others manage to escape. One rifle, one shotgun, one country-made pistol, one hand grenade and some incriminating documents are recovered from the incident site.
June 29: Unknown assailants kill a surrendered HNLC militant, Oli Syiemlieh, near Mawsynram in the East Khasi Hills district. The victim was missing since June 27 and his body with several injuries was recovered from a forest area in Nongtrai.
June 21: A hardcore HNLC cadre, Forekest Hahshah, surrenders before the Superintendent of Police of West Khasi Hills district at Nongstoin. According to official sources, Hahshah has fled form his camp in Bangladesh recently.
June 11: A group of unidentified gunmen kill a surrendered HNLC cadre, identified as Pyngtngenlang Tariang alias Bah Bah Panai, near Umkrem village in the East Khasi Hills district. The dead body of Tariang is recovered on the next day.
June 3: Meghalaya Chief Minister, D. D. Lapang, assures all possible help to Church leader P. B. M. Basiawmoit in his efforts to bring the HNLC to the negotiating table. The Chief Minister says, "We appreciate and admire the move of Mr Basiawmoit and the government will extend all possible helps for him." Lapang further indicates that he has requested the Union Government to speed up the process with the HNLC.
May 25: Suspected HNLC and NDFB cadres abduct a trader from Moosyiem village in the Jaintia Hills district. They also shot at and injured the trader’s brother before escaping.
April 27: A HNLC cadre belonging to the ‘finance wing’ of the outfit, identified as Teiskhem Sun, is arrested from the Mawlai area. Subsequent to information provided by Sun, police recover an AK-47 rifle along with 30 rounds of ammunition from a forest area near Umsning in the Ri-Bhoi district.
April 26: Two HNLC cadres belonging to the ‘finance wing’ of the outfit, identified as David Mylliem Umlong and Golden Pathaw, are arrested from the Lewduh and Mawlai Umjaipur areas respectively.
March 30: HNLC approaches the Union Government for peace talks and in this regard, sends four cadres of the outfit to New Delhi to initiate the peace process. Confirming this, State Home Minister, Mukul Sangma says, "We are expecting some positive outcome regarding the latest development. Details will be made available at the right time."
March 30: A tribunal makes recommendations for the extension of the proscription on the HNLC and ANVC for another year.
March 28: Bangla Dhar alias Biang, a senior HNLC cadre, allegedly involved in extortion activities in Dawki and other border areas, surrenders before the Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills district.
March 25: Suspected HNLC cadres abduct Man Bahadur Pradhan, manager of a coal export firm of Sutnga in the Jaintia Hills district.
February 16: An unidentified ‘area commander’ of the HNLC is lynched by villagers of Sohkynphor in the Jaintia Hills district. He was allegedly involved in extortion activities in the area.
January 30: A suspected HNLC cadre is arrested at Jowai in the Jaintia Hills district.
January 24: An eight-member group suspected to be linked to the HNLC loot Rupees 93 lakh from the Meghalaya Co-operative Apex Bank branch at Khliehriat in Jaintia Hills district. The Meghalaya Director-General of Police, L. Sailo, confirming the link between the group and the HNLC says, "They owe allegiance to the HNLC in some form or the other."
January 14: Meghalaya Police arrests a HNLC militant, Kobarlan Snaitang, from Pyndensohsaw near Mawsynram in the East Khasi Hills district.
January 7: Seven HNLC cadres, who surrendered before the Border Security Force authorities at an unspecified place in the State of Mizoram, are likely to be brought back to Shillong on January 8.

2004

December 22: The Union Government extends the ban on two militant outfits of Meghalaya, the ANVC and HNLC. In an official notification in Shillong, the Union Home Ministry cites the reasons for extension stating that although the ANVC agrees to abjure violence and expresses willingness for talks within the framework of Constitution, it continues "collection of funds and extortion, acquisition of sophisticated weapons and recruitment of new cadre." For HNLC, the notification says, it openly declares its "secessionist" objective, engaged in armed means to achieve the objective, indulged in intimidation, extortion and looting of civilians for collection of funds for the organisation. Both the outfits, according to the notification, maintain links with other insurgent groups of the North-east region for collecting weapons, carrying out violence, extortion, intimidation and looting besides having camps in some neighbouring countries for "sanctuary, training and clandestine procurement of arms and ammunition."
December 19: Two surrendered HNLC cadres, Barlin Kharnoir and Firestar Rapsang, are arrested on charges of car-lifting from the Bara Bazaar area of capital Shillong.
December 15: A HNLC cadre, Spurfield Suting alias Phlex, surrenders before the police at Borsora in the West Khasi Hills district.
December 13: A hardcore HNLC cadre, Deningstar Rapsang, surrenders before the Meghalaya Home Minister, H.D.R Lyngdoh. He deposits one AK-56 rifle along with three magazines, one M-20 pistol and another 73 rounds of live ammunition. According to police sources, the outfit’s ‘commander-in-chief’, Bobby Marwein, deputed Rapsang to raise extortion money from the capital Shillong.
December 10: HNLC blames its surrendered cadres for the killing of five HNLC activists in its Bangladesh camps. A statement issued by its ‘secretary of information and communication’, Mangkara Dkhar, said: "Such policy by the authorities would lead to problems in bringing peace in the State."
November 17: Meghalaya Police arrests a senior HNLC cadre from Pyndensohsaw near Mawsynram in the East Khasi Hills district.
November 4: Four extortionists with alleged links with HNLC arrested in the capital city of Shillong.
October 15: A security guard of the HNLC 'General Secretary' C Thangkhiew surrenders before the police at Pynursla outpost in East Khasi Hills district along with two hand grenades and one SBBL gun.
October 1: HNLC terrorists shot at a taxi driver at Cheruphi in Jaintia Hills district.
September 29: Police arrest three suspected HNLC cadres, who claimed to be members of the newly formed Hynniewtrep National Youth Front Tiger Force, from Ladthalaboh in Jaintia Hills district.
September 16: Security forces arrest an HNLC cadre, Shanbor Warjri, from the Mawlai Mawdatbaki area in the capital city of Shillong.
September 3: A HNLC cadre surrenders to the police at Jowai in the Jaintia Hills district.
August 30: Police recovers 10 rounds of AK ammunition from the house of a HNLC cadre at Mawlai Motsyiar in the capital city of Shillong.
August 30: A HNLC cadre, identified as Khlainbor Pakyntein, is arrested from Mawlai Motsyiar in the East Khasi Hills district.
August 29: Unknown miscreants damage the vehicle of a surrendered HNLC cadre at Jaiaw Langsning in Shillong.
August 24: A HNLC terrorist, identified as Sadelbert Thongni, surrenders before the police at Nongstoin in the West Khasi Hills district.
August 3: Twenty-eight HNLC militants surrender before Chief Minister D. D. Lapang in Shillong.
June 28: Meghalaya Police arrests three HNLC terrorists who crossed over to Meghalaya from the West Khasi Hills border of Bangladesh to extort money from coal exporters of the Borosora area in the State.
May 18: Five HNLC cadres surrender in Mizoram before the Border Security Force.

May 3: Reports indicate that the HNLC charges its surrendered cadres for extorting money from the people in the name of the outfit in collusion with the State police.

March 31: A surrendered HNLC terrorist, identified as Ibor Marwein, is arrested from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council office in Shillong along with one .9 mm pistol and some ammunition.

April 30: At least eleven HNLC cadres surrender at a Border Security Force camp in Mizoram, bordering Bangladesh.

March 16: 28 HNLC terrorists, including two women cadres, lay down arms before Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang at the Meghalaya Police Training Center at Mawiong in the East Khasi Hills district.

January 30: Eight HNLC cadres, including top leaders Armstrong Lyngdoh and Kitdor, surrender before the Home Minister RG Lyngdoh.

January 14: Fourteen HNLC cadres surrender before the Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang in Shillong.

2003

December 30: Two HNLC terrorists are arrested near the Bangladesh-Tripura border while on their way to Meghalaya via Tripura.

November 3: Meghalaya Police arrest two office bearers of the Archery Sports Association (ASA) in the capital Shillong for reportedly contributing money to the proscribed HNLC after collecting funds illegally.

November 2: A hardcore HNLC terrorist is arrested from the Mawlai Syllaikariah area near capital Shillong.
October 17: Meghalaya Police arrests one HNLC terrorist during a raid in the premises of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) at Shillong.

October 15: HNLC ‘publicity wing’ chief, Edward Charles Synder, is arrested, from a cyber café in the capital Shillong.

October 1: Meghalaya Police arrests three HNLC terrorists from a hideout near Umium River in the East Khasi Hills district.

September 27: HNLC ‘commander-in-chief (Western Command), Delphinus Myrthong alias Khraw is killed during an encounter near Nongstoin in the West Khasi Hills district.

September 24: Meghalaya Chief Minister Lapang offers truce to the ANVC and HNLC.

September 22: Union Government blocks an HNLC discussion group on the Internet through which the outfit was circulating its newsletter, The Voice.

August 20: Meghalaya Police arrests Mardor Bamon, ‘political secretary’ of the HNLC from Mawlai.

August 16: Suspected HNLC terrorists attack police training school at Golf links, Shillong, with hand grenade.

July 29: HNLC ‘chairman’ Julius Dorphang refutes Government’s claim over surrender of top cadres and asks the police to reveal the identity of its cadres who have either surrendered or are arrested.

July 9: Police file FIR under the Unlawful Activities Act for funding the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) against 79 businessmen in Meghalaya.

June 14: Meghalaya Police arrests Paul Lyngdoh, second in command in the finance wing of HNLC, from a hideout near Nongthymmai in Shillong.

June 7: Meghalaya Police arrests two HNLC terrorists, including the ‘general secretary’ of HNLC’s finance wing, at the Nongrim Hills locality, responsible for spreading the extortion network in the Khasi hills and Ri Bhoi districts.

May 22: Security force personnel arrest a woman HNLC cadre identified as Blister Mary Kurbah from Mawngap in the East Khasi Hills district.

May 14: HNLC ‘assistant finance secretary’ Heston Bohphang is arrested from his residence at Umpling in the capital Shillong.

April 19: Two HNLC suspects are killed and three more arrested following an encounter at Mawpud village, East Garo Hills district.

April 23: Security forces apprehend two unidentified HNLC terrorists near Williamnagar, East Garo Hills district.

March 17: Media reports indicate that HNLC has resumed its extortion drive in the Garo Hills area after maintaining a low profile for approximately a year.

March 22: Security forces arrest two HNLC terrorists at Mawlai, East Khasi Hills district, and recover three AK 47 rifles, 24 rounds of live cartridges and five magazines.

March 24: The Shillong Khasi-Jaintia Church Leaders’ Forum (SKJCLF) Chairman Bishop Purely Lyngdoh announces that the forum is likely to discuss, among others, a peace initiative with the HNLC during a meeting on March 27.

March 4: HNLC suspects kill a police personnel at Wahthapabru, near Mission compound area, Shillong, in East Khasi Hills district.

February 12: Police unearth a HNLC arms dump, including a carbine, a stengun, 48 bullets of M-16 rifle, 48 rounds of AK series and 103 rounds of hunting rifles, among others, near Wahingdoh, Shillong, East Khasi Hills district.

February 5: A HNLC arms dump is unearthed near Wahumkhrah River in Shillong. Two AK 56 rifles, an AK 47 rifle, three carbines and unspecified quantity of ammunition are seized from the dump.

January 29: Police recover arms and ammunition, including an M-16 rifle, a semi-automatic rifle, 41 rounds of M-16 ammunition, 15 rounds of 7.62 ammunition and some incriminating documents, among others, from a HNLC terrorist at Distar Marbaniang, in Wahingdoh, Shillong, East Khasi district.

January 18: Reports indicate that 15 HNLC terrorists have sneaked into Meghalaya from Bangladesh to carry out terrorist strikes ahead of the Republic Day on January 26.

January 10: The SKJCLF urges both the Government and HNLC to hold unconditional talks.

January 4: In a New Year message, the HNLC reiterates its aim to achieve ‘freedom’ for the Hynniewtrep people.

January 3: Union Home Ministry extends ban under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967 on the ANVC and HNLC in Meghalaya.

2002

December 23: One HNLC terrorist is killed during an encounter at Qualapatty, East Khasi Hills district.
December 9: Some 20 HNLC terrorists sneak into Meghalaya, armed with sophisticated weapons, through the porous Indo-Bangladesh border in West Khasi Hills to carry out subversive activities in the region.
December 7: Meghalaya police arrest four HNLC terrorists from Jaiaw and Mawlai areas and recover a Sten gun and 20 rounds of live ammunition from one of the hideouts of the outfit at Jaiaw.
December 3: Police arrest Welcome Nongkynrih, a trusted associate of HNLC area commander James, in Mawlai Umjaiur, Meghalaya.
November 27: A Special Operations Team of Meghalaya police arrests two Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council terrorists identified as Roland Syiemlieh and Banwansuk Nongkseh in Lower Lachumiere area, and recovers a huge cache of arms and ammunition after raiding a hideout, in Mawlai Nongpdeng. The catch includes 591 rounds of M-16 ammunition, two Chinese made hand grenades, a .32 pistol, 5 rounds of SLR ammunition and an AK-47 magazine.
November 4: HNLC warns the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-led government in Meghalaya against counter-terrorism measures and police excesses
November 1: HNLC suffers setback following the largest arms seizure by Meghalaya police. State police unearth a hideout at Khlaw Roman, in Mawlai Nongpdeng, Shillong, and seize 663 ammunition rounds of various makes. The seizure includes 460 rounds of M-16 and 169 rounds of Ak-47 ammunition, two Chinese-made high-explosive grenades, a round of SLR 7.62 (self loading rifles), .27 bore cartridges and three rounds of .303 ammunition.
October 11: Five HNLC terrorists armed with AK-47 rifles kill Kilas Momin, a police personnel in Mawlai Nonglum, Shillong.
August 27: An HNLC terrorist is seriously injured in an encounter in Mawkriah village, near Shillong while another arrested.
August 24: Two HNLC terrorists are arrested by the State police in Nongthymmai, near Shillong.
The dead body of a suspected HNLC terrorist is found in Shillong.
August 15: Security arrangements throughout Meghalaya are tightened to ensure the smooth celebration of Independence Day, following a 24-hour bandh (general strike) call given by the HNLC and the People's Liberation Front. Chief Minister F A Khonglam renews his invitation, on the occasion of Independence day, to terrorists groups in the State "to come to the negotiation table and sort out differences in a peaceful manner."
August 6: Security forces in Meghalaya arrest eight HNLC terrorists from Mawlai, Shillong. The East Khasi Hills district police chief says those arrested are mostly teenagers and add that it confirms that the HNLC is recruiting teenagers into its fold.
July 1: Meghalaya police arrest an HNLC terrorist from the 3rd milestone, Upper Shillong. An AK 47 rifle, a Smooth Bore Breech Loading (SBBL) gun, a country made revolver, ammunition and incriminating documents are recovered from him.
June 3: Two HNLC terrorists are arrested in Shillong and another suspected HNLC terrorist in Nongthyllep village, near Mairang, West Khasi Hills.
May 13: Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP) L Sailo claims that the HNLC stood marginalised in the state.
May 8: HNLC terrorists warn all outsiders doing business in Meghalaya to pay 'fixed taxes' and threaten them with 'severe punishment', leading to 'imprisonment and being driven out of the Hynniewtrep land' in case of resistance. The terrorist group also promises to negotiate with those businessmen who found it difficult to pay the 'taxes'.
April 2: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister D D Lapang says the government is unable to spell the terms and conditions for talks with the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) terrorist outfit as the latter failed to give any positive indication to the government's proposal.
March 27: Eight HNLC terrorists, on their way to Bangladesh for arms training, arrested from Siatbakon Road..

March 18: HNLC terrorist Mardor Bamon arrested by Shillong Police and the Special Operations Team (SOT) of Lum Jingshai in Shillong .

March 16: HNLC terrorist arrested following a raid at Mawlai Umjaiw in Shillong.

March 6: HNLC terrorists attack the East Khasi Hills district police chief’s office.

February 16: Three HNLC cadres killed in an encounter at Smit, East Khasi Hills .

January 23: HNLC terrorist killed in an encounter and three others arrested at Riatmidi, bordering Mawlai Nangpdeng and Mawlai Motsyiar .

January 10: HNLC terrorist escapes from Lumdiengjri Police Station.

January 9: Suspected HNLC terrorist killed in retaliatory firing by the police at Lumshai, Shillong.

January 5: Four HNLC terrorists, including a local ‘commander’, arrested after an encounter at Shangpung in Jaintia Hills district. Three HNLC terrorists arrested after another encounter at Umsing in Ribhoi district.

2001

December 21: HNLC terrorist arrested in Shillong.

November 12: Two HNLC terrorists arrested by the Shillong Special Operation Team (SOT) at the seventh mile stone in Shillong.

November 11: Suspected HNLC terrorists kill one of their own cadres at Panaliar, Jaintia Hills district .

October 23: HNLC Chairman Julius K. Dorphang discloses that Ching Thangkhiew, the ‘Commander-in-Chief’ of the North East Red Army (NERA), now a defunct outfit, had been "eliminated" because he was assisting the security forces and the RSS against the interests of the HNLC.

March 28: Two police personnel killed in an encounter with HNLC terrorists near Jaiaw Longsuing, in Shillong.

March 4: Seng Khasi leader Rijoy Khongshah, was abducted earlier on March 1, 2001, killed by HNLC terrorists.

February 19: The outfit, in a statement, opposes Census operations in the State and threatens to eliminate enumerators participating in the process.

January 19: HNLC terrorists attack a police outpost in Shillong and kill two police personnel.

January 9: Two security guards of a nationalised bank killed in an attack by HNLC terrorists at Mawsynram village.

January 5: Five civilians killed and four others injured in an attack by HNLC terrorists on a business establishment in Shillong

2000

August 15: Police personnel killed and another injured when fleeing HNLC terrorists fire at security forces.

August 14: Three CRPF personnel injured as HNLC cadres fire around 600 rounds into the air and also in the direction of the CRPF camp in the State capital Shillong.

Source:Compiled from news reports and are provisional.

Incidents and Statements involving HNLC: 2013

Date	Place	Incident	Nature of incident
January 4	Shillong	Following recent reports of HNLC militants making an attempt to regroup ahead of the upcoming Assembly election, the UMHA directed the Meghalaya State Government to keep a close watch on the activities of the outfit.	Statement
January 22	Shillong in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya	The HNLC has called a 20-hour bandh (shut down strike) in Meghalaya on Republic Day. The customary shutdown has been called from 10pm of January 25 to 6pm of January 26.	statement
January 24	Jaintia Hills District in Meghalaya	Police arrested a senior cadre of the HNLC at Iawmusiang from his wife's residence. The arrested cadre identified as Phyrnai Swer, holds the rank of a 'lieutenant' in the outfit. Sources informed that the Police received information that around 10 to 15 HNLC cadres recently crossed over to India from Muktapur area of Bangladesh with an aim to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations in the State.	Non-violent
January 24	Shillong in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya	A special operations team arrested one HNLC linkman identified as Manbhalang Jyrwa alias Man alias Sulfiyan Ali Hazarika after receiving a tip-off that he was operating from the Nongrim Hills locality.	Non-violent
January 24	Shillong in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya	Police also arrested six other OGW, including a woman. They have been identified as Bakmenlang Kharpuri of Mawkhar Block 6, Goldy Khongwir, Lawanbiang Dohkrut and Jolene Hazel Khongwir of Wah-ingdoh Rai Mohan Lane, Stadpyrkhat Langstieh of Lum-shyiap, Golflinks and Phaiborlang Donshiew of Sngithiang, Mawprem. They have been accused of facilitating the HNLC and enabling its cadres to open fire at the Lumdiengjri Police Station on July 2, 2012, and the attempted HNLC flag-hoisting at Student's Field, Jaiaw on November 5, 2012. .	Non-violent
January 25	West Jaintia Hills	West Jaintia Hills Police arrested the vice president of KSU Laskein Circle from his residence at Looksi in the District. Police sources have revealed that the KSU leader, Nangaibormi Sutnga, allegedly has close links with the HNLC. "He was in regular touch with HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw through Facebook and also through phone calls," the Police sources alleged.	Non-Violent
January 26	Shillong in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya	Meghalaya Governor RS Mooshahary expressed grave concern over the growing influence of the GNLA in Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills Districts. Mooshahary said that the law and order situation in the State has been stable and the internal security scenario is by and large satisfactory. Governor also appealed the 'disgruntled elements' to seek peaceful resolution of their demands through established democratic processes. The Governor observed that activities of the HNLC have seen a decline in the past few years due to constant pressure mounted by the State Police.	statement
February 13	New Delhi	Meghalaya Governor, RS Mooshahary while praising the State Government for the "commendable" job it has done in containing the activities of militant groups said law and order situation in the State is under control. Speaking at the two-day conference of Governors, Mooshahary said the State was fully geared up for the February 23 elections. "The activities of HNLC are on decline in Khasi-Jainita Hills," the Governor said adding the peace agreement with the Garo militant outfit ANVC would be signed shortly. "However, the increased activities of the GNLA and its growing influence in Garo Hills and parts of West Khasi Hills is a matter of concern," he added.	statement
February 18	NS	The HNLC has called a 36-hour bandh (shut down strike) on Meghalaya assembly election day, i.e. February 23 to protest against the Indian political system. The outfit demanded that the Government of India should immediately repatriate all the "foreigners" who had gifted the 'status of refugees' since 1971-72 from the Hynñiewtrep soil (Meghalaya) to their respective homeland (Bangladesh),"because it is the responsibility of the government of India who were given settlement legally or illegally against the will of local populace of Hynñiewtrep. The HNLC also demanded for the Immediate withdrawal of all the armed forces as well as the political machineries from "Hynñiewtrep Homeland" (Meghalaya).	Statement
February 21	Shillong in East Khasi Hills District	Taking strong note of the 36-hour bandh (shut down strike) called by the HNLC to boycott the Assembly polls in the State, the Government has beefed up security to ensure peaceful elections. Addressing a press conference,following a meeting with political parties, officiating Chief Secretary, Barkos Warjri said that altogether 91 companies of Central Paramilitary Forces have been deployed in the State to maintain law and order and 44 companies were deployed in the militant-hit Garo Hills region. In addition to deployment of central armed forces, the BSF has also been asked to be in maximum 'alert' along the Indo-Bangla border. "BSF have put all the BOPs along the Indo-Bangladesh border on maximum-alert and they have also requested their counterpart in Bangladesh to step up vigilance in order to ensure zero infiltration into Meghalaya from across the border," DGP Prem Singh said.	Statement
February 23	Shillong in East Khasi Hills District	Meghalaya registered nearly 88 per cent turnout of voters in a peaceful poll conducted despite the boycott of the election by the Khasi Hills-based HNLC, and the threat from GNLA in some pockets of Garo Hills. The total percentage of polling in the 2008 Assembly election was 89.04 per cent.	Statement
February 28	NS	After his maiden victory in the just concluded assembly election, former HNLC 'chairman' Julius Dorphang appealed to the outfit to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream. While expressing gratitude to the people of the constituency for the victory, Dorphang said, "Any problem can be solved by political dialogue through democratic means." The former HNLC member added that he would work for the development of the constituency and translate his words into action.	Statement
March 1	NS	The former 'chairman' of the HNLC, Julias Kitbok Dorphang, who successfully made the transition from a rebel to a legislator in the State Assembly, has offered to mediate between the Government and the outfit if he is entrusted with the task. Dorphang, who is all set to support the Congress in Government formation on March 5, urged the HNLC to join the mainstream and exploit the window of opportunity for discussion with the State to resolve their grievances. The former chairman of the outfit said, "I don't regret that I was a part of HNLC", even as he expressed disappointment over the fact that some of his colleagues were 'still on the other side of the fence'. "During youth one can go in any direction but with age the same should be streamlined," the founding member of the HNLC who came overground in 2007, said.	Statement
March 7	New Delhi	The Registrar Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, Delhi High Court, discussed the issue of declaring the HNLC as an unlawful association. The tribunal will hear all the points brought before it and will then decide whether the ban imposed on the HNLC should be extended or not.	Statement
April 4	New Delhi	The Registrar Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, Delhi High Court, fixed April 14 as the date for arguments regarding extension of the ban on the HNLC. Official sources informed that the date of argument was fixed after completion of the two-day hearing. The Tribunal will decide whether the ban imposed on the HNLC should be extended or not after the completion of the arguments, official sources added.	Statement
April 9	Esat Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya	HNLC cadre, identified as Banpyrkhat Langstieh alias Pyntngen, surrendered before the East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, M Kharkrang. Banpyrkhat, who joined the outfit in 2001, had served for 12 years in the banned outfit and was relieved last week on health grounds. He is also one of the suspects responsible for putting up the HNLC flag in Student's Field on HNLC raising day in August, 2012.	Non-violent
April 10	NS	SFs arrested a surrendered HNLC militant, Banpyrkhat Langstieh alias Pyntngen, for his suspected involvement in some criminal cases. Langstieh had surrendered before East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang on April 9. Police claimed that the surrendered cadre was involved in the attack on Lumdiengjri Police Station on July 3, 2012. The former cadre is also suspected to be involved in putting up an HNLC flag at Student's Field on HNLC raising day in August, 2012.	Non-violent
April 17	Shillong in East Khasi Hills	State Home Minister Roshan Warjri assured the House that she would order an inquiry into the arrest of former HNLC cadre identified as Banpyrkhat Langstieh alias Pyntngen who had surrendered before East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang on April 8. Earlier, while moving a cut motion in the Assembly, HSPDP legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit demanded that the former HNLC cadre should be immediately released since the Police cannot adopt different yardsticks for the surrendered HNLC cadres. The HSPDP legislator said that the surrendered HNLC cadre deserves the rehabilitation package which the Government provides to all surrendered cadres. On the HNLC, she said efforts by the group's leadership to rejuvenate the organisation with recruitments, alliance with other Northeast militant organisations and raise funds through extortions had met with "limited successes only".	Statement
August 11	NS	11 militant outfits based in India's Northeast, six from Manipur, three from Assam and one each from Meghalaya and Tripura, have jointly called for a boycott of Independence Day (August 15). The outfits include KCP, KYKL, PREPAK, PREPAK-PRO, RPF and UNLF of Manipur, which operate from one platform called CorCom, HNLC of Meghalaya, KLO, NDFB, ULFA-I of Assam and NLFT of Tripura. These groups now describe northeast as "Western South East Asia (WESEA) region".	Violent
August 14	NS	The HNLC offered to hold unconditional talks saying the State Government will have to take the initiative. "We are still open to have an unconditional dialogue with the Government. It is up to the State Government to initiate the process to resolve differences," HNLC 'general secretary' Cheristerfield Thangkhiew said in a statement issued on the eve of the outfit's 26th foundation day. Thangkhiew, however, lamented that the Government had not been serious about holding talks with the outfit and "the matter has been lingering for quite some time." The HNLC was formed on August 14, 1987. Except for the HNLC which called for a bandh (general shut down) from 1am to 5.30pm on August 15, no other militant group, who are active in the Garo Hills region, issued any bandh call.	Violent
August 27	East Khasi Hills	The Police questioned a former HNLC cadre Marcus Tonglieh for posting inflammatory words against a Judge of Meghalaya High Court, SR Sen and one Advocate on social networking site, Facebook. Acting on information received on August 23, 2013, Police lodged a complaint with the Sadar Police Station, informed East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (SP), Vivek Syiem.	Non-violent
September 2	NS	The HNLC came out in support of the pressure groups which are demanding the implementation of the ILP in Meghalaya.	Statement
October 12	Meghalaya	HNLC warned former State Home Minister RG Lyngdoh for insisting on the arrest of miscreants involved in the attempt to set ablaze a trader at Motphran recently.	Violent
October 18	Meghalaya	The HNLC has called for a 36-hour bandh (general Strike) from October 21 in protest against the two-day visit of President Pranab Mukherjee to the State. The bandh would be effective from 6 am of October 21 till 6 pm of October 22.	Violent
October 21	Meghalaya	The first day of the 36-hour bandh (shut down strike) called by HNLC to protest the visit of President Pranab Mukherjee to Shillong in East Khasi Hills District called by the HNLC passed off peacefully with no untoward incident reported from both East and West Jaintia Hills.	Violent
October 22	Shillong / Meghalaya	Thousands of music lovers converged at Kyndailad in Shillong to listen to their favourite bands at the 'Free Ur Mind' concert, despite the 36-hour bandh (General Shutdown) called by the militant outfit HNLC to boycott President Pranab Mukherjee maiden visit to the State.	Non-violent
November 14	Meghalaya	HNLC has warned the MUDA officials against continuing the eviction drives against tribal people even as it issued a fresh life threat on Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh. "The council issues strict warning to the employees of MUDA not to repeat such action in the near future or be ready to face the consequences," the outfit's publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in statement issued.	Violent
November 19	South West Khasi Hills / Meghalaya	The HNLC suffered a big blow when two of its cadres, including a senior member were arrested from Mawkyrwat area, South West Khasi Hills District, along with two over-ground workers in the evening.	Non-Violent
December 19	Meghalaya	The HNLC has called a 12-hour shutdown on December 23 (6 am to 6 pm) to pressurize the State Government to release all the arrested activists during the Inner Line permit (ILP) unrest. Terming the arrested activists as political prisoners, HNLC Publicity 'Secretary' Sainkupar Nongtraw in a release issued on December 19 evening said, "This was a collective decision of the Central command to put pressure on the State Government to 'immediately and unconditionally release the arrested political prisoners and detainees".	Violent
November 20	Meghalaya	The arrest of two HNLC cadres along with two over ground workers from Mawkyrwat in South West Khasi Hills District provides evidences that the once dreaded outfit is making attempts for a comeback. Police sources, informed that seizure of extortion notes from the arrested cadres indicate that the HNLC has been actively involved in collecting money from well-to-do people in an obvious attempt at reorganising themselves. Police sources also informed that the militant group has been making attempts to lure poor youths from rural areas into joining the outfit.	Statement
December 20	Meghalaya	Cross sections of people condemned the dawn-to-dusk shutdown called by the outlawed HNLC ahead of the Christmas' eve. HNLC, a separatist rebel outfit fighting for a sovereign 'Hynniewtrep' homeland in eastern part of Meghalaya, announced the 12-hour shutdown December 23 to protest the arrest of several youths on charges of damaging Government property. HNLC 'spokesman' Sainkupar Nongtraw had stated that government "must immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners and detainees". Reverend, P.B.M.Basaiawmoit, the outfit's former emissary, said "The shutdown called is most unusual, unorthodox, and unprecedented since this has not been the way the HNLC functions in times goes past". Questioning the shutdown called, former Meghalaya Home Minister, Robert. G. Lyngdoh, asked, "Is the HNLC trying to establish that there is a connection between the demand for ILP and their secessionist activities."	Statement
December 24	Shillong/ East Khasi hills	The 12-hour bandh (General strike) called by HNLC failed to create much impact as most of the shops in main centres like Khyndailad (Police Bazaar), Laitumkhrah and other parts of the Shillong city remained open. People defied the bandh as hundreds of people came out for their normal activities and last minute Christmas shopping. HNLC called for the 12 hour bandh demanding immediate and unconditional release of the pro- ILP activists arrested by Police in connection with several arsons and murder related case that took place during the three-month agitations.	Violent

Source:Compiled from news reports and are provisional.

Incidents and Statements involving HNLC: 2014

Date	Place	Incident	Nature of incident
Janaury 21	Shillong/ East Khasi hills	11 militant outfits of the North East have jointly given a call to boycott the Republic Day (January 26) and to observe a general strike. In a joint statement, CorCom, an umbrella organization of Manipur-based militant groups, ULFA-I, NDFB-IKS,NLFT,KLO and HNLC have called upon the people of the region to boycott the Republic Day to fight together against the "colonial rule" of India. CorCom consists of KCP, KYKL, PREPAK, PREPAK-Pro, PLA and UNLF.	Violent
February 2	East Jaintia hills	The HNLC issued a direct warning to coal traders doing business in Briwar, Samasi and Nongkhlieh areas of East Jaintia Hills District asking them to refrain from getting involved in land disputes. In a statement issued to the media, HNLC 'publicity secretary' Sainkupar Nongtraw said that the "show of strength by coal traders has given rise to various criminal activities which are affecting the normal life of the common people in the entire area.	Violent
February 19	NS	The HNLC confirmed that former KSU vice president Frederick Kharmawphlang and 13 others had joined the outfit, with its publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw claiming that they had joined the outfit since they were hunted by the police for demanding implementation of ILP.	Violent
February 19	Meghalaya	A day after KSU vice president created a storm by announcing that he has resigned from the influential students' body and has joined the HNLC, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, said that the Government would verify whether the former KSU leader had been maintaining prolonged association with the militant outfit before joining the group.	Statement
February 20	Meghalaya	Meghalaya Police ruled out any nexus between the KSU and the HNLC following reports that a KSU leader had joined the outfit. Reports surfaced that KSU vice-president Frederick Kharmawphlang had left the students' union to join hands with the HNLC. He had reportedly tendered his resignation letter to KSU president Daniel Khyriem wherein he mentioned that he would join the outfit.	Statement
February 22	East Khasi Hills	A surrendered HNLC cadre outraged the modesty of a woman inside a beauty parlour at Mawlai Mawdatbaki in East Khasi Hills.	Violent
March 2	Meghalaya	Former KSU Vice-president Fredrick Kharmawphlang and 13 others, who recently joined the HNLC, are believed to be somewhere in Meghalaya and are yet to cross over to Bangladesh, BSF officials informed. The BSF personnel have been asked to augment their vigil in the border in view of the development.	Statement
March 8	Meghalaya	Addressing the opening day of the Budget session of the Meghalaya Assembly, Governor K.K. Paul expressed concern about the activities of GNLA in the Garo Hills. According to the Governor, the activities of HNLC had seen a decline during the past one year because of the constant pressure mounted by the State Police.	statement
March 9	Shillong/ East Khasi Hills	The BSF handed over to the BGB a list of 66 terror camps in Bangladesh of militants operating in India's Northeast. Camps of HNLC, ULFA, NDFB, PLA and a few other groups were operating in districts like Mymensingh, Maulvibazar and Rangamati. IG BSF Sudhir Kumar Srivastava said, "The number of these camps has decreased." Some of the camps had now been shifted towards Myanmar due to pressure from Bangladesh authorities.	Statement
March 12	Shillong/ East Khasi Hills	A student organization leader, public secretary of the JSM, Sambormi Lyngdoh from East Jaintia Hills District has joined HNLC. This was also confirmed by the HNLC's 'publicity secretary', Sainkupar Nongthraw through a post in Facebook. Sambormi is a resident of Khliehriat East of East Jaintia Hills District.	Statement
March 13	Shillong/ East Khasi Hills	Police arrested three newly-recruited HNLC cadres from Upper Shillong area in East Khasi Hills District. They were identified as Tony Roy Pale, Shanbor Maring and Kyrshan Khyriem.	Non-violent
March 14	East Khasi Hills	Police arrested one person, who was assigned by HNLC with the task of helping the new militant recruits to cross over to Bangladesh, from Pyndemsohsaw village in East Khasi Hills District. East Khasi Hills SP M Kharkrang informed that the arrested person was identified as Paila Snaitang (38).	Non-violent
March 17	Meghalaya	The HNLC received a jolt when a senior cadre of the outfit, identified as Syiemlieh alias Lungiut, surrendered before the East Khasi Hills Superintendant of Police. Syiemlieh, who recently escaped from Bangladesh to surrendered, did not deposit any arms and ammunition.	Statement
March 17	Shillong/ East Khasi Hills	HNLC clarified that youths arrested by Police in Upper Shillong on March 13 did not have any link with outfit.	Statement
March 19	Shillong/ East Khasi Hills	Elvis Syiemlieh, an HNLC cadre who escaped from Bangladesh and surrendered on March 17 before the Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills District revealed the sufferings of HNLC cadres during their stay with the militant outfit. Syiemlieh on March 19 revealed that he was getting an amount of only INR 150 per month during his stay in the camp of the militant outfit in Chittagong (Bangladesh). He also revealed that one of the cadres of the outfit, Tensing Syiemlieh even died in their camp in Bangladesh.	Statement
April 1	Kolkata/ West Bengal	A top HNLC cadre, Phyranilang Swer alias Pastor stated to be the 'area commander' of the outfit in Jaintia Hills District, was arrested by Police on the outskirts of Kolkata (West Bengal) in the evening. Pastor was picked by the STF of Kolkata Police from Kalikapur area after getting inputs from Shillong Police.	Non-Violent
April 2	Shillong/East Khasi Hills	A Police team from Shillong left for Kolkata (West Bengal) to bring back HNLC cadre Phyranilang Swer and his companion Nand Kishore Thakur who were arrested by the Special Task Force of Kolkata Police on April 1, East Khasi Hills SP M Kharkrang said 2. A statement issued by the SP's office said the arrests took place at Chittaranjan Avenue in central Kolkata, though reports from Kolkata said that the arrests had taken place at Kalikapur in the outskirts of the city.	Non-Violent
April 4	East Khasi Hills	Phyranilang Swer, an HNLC cadre, who was arrested along with his accomplice Nand Kishore Thakur from Kolkata (West Bengal) on April 1, has been remanded to eight days of Police custody. East Khasi Hills SP M Kharkrang said that both persons were brought to Shillong on in the night of April 3 and they were produced in the court on April 4.	Non-Violent
April 6	Khasi and Jaintia Hills	The HNLC has called a 12-hour bandh (shut down strike) along with a poll boycott in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills on April 9, the day Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian parliament) elections are due in Meghalaya. It has also renewed the demand for imposition of the ILP system in Meghalaya and called for a plebiscite to decide if Hynniewtrep (the Khasis) wants to stay in India or not. "The HNLC appeals to the people of Hynniewtrep to boycott the drama of elections enacted by the Government of India, as the outfit would observe a total shutdown of the entire Khasi and Jaintia Hills on April 9 starting from 5am to 5pm," 'publicity secretary' of HNLC Saiñkupar Nongtraw said on April 6. The decision to call a bandh on the polling day was taken in an emergency meeting of Central Executive Committee of HNLC held on April 1. HNLC cadres Phyrmailang Swer and Nandkishore Thakur, who were arrested from Kolkata by West Bengal Police, are suspected to have gone to Kolkata to escape the Meghalaya Police and find customers to sell their weapons and fake notes. The weapons are mainly of Chinese make and the fake notes outsourced from China, Police sources informed adding both are wanted in several cases of terror acts lodged in two Police Stations of Laitumkhrah and Rynjah of East Khasi Hills District in Meghalaya.	Statement
April 16	NS	HNLC asked people of Nepali community to quit from the entire Districts of Khasi and Jaintia Hills, and especially from Langpih, with immediate effect, on the ground that "the illegal Nepali foreign settlers in Langpih" were causing "huge damage" to the indigenous people. Accusing militant groups from Karbi Anglong in Assam of threatening indigenous people of Meghalaya in Block-I and Block-II areas, the HNLC that "the HNLC would not tolerate any interference by the outside groups into its territory.	Statement
April 19	NS	Arrested HNLC cadres, Phyrnai Swer alias Pastor, and his associate, Nand Kishore Thakur were engaging in several business activities in the State, according to Police. "Phyrnai owns a petrol pump in Jaintia Hills besides carrying out other business activities and his associate Kishore helps him in his business ventures.	Statement
April 30	NS	HNLC has termed the ongoing power crisis in Meghalaya as a "conspiracy" by the State Government to make way for uranium mining in order to generate electricity. This policy of the Indian government towards Meghalaya is to make Hynniewtrep and A'chik starve so that they live a poor life. The Indian government wants to take away uranium, electricity, coal, land and everything else that would make Hynniewtrep lives enriched. The HNLC would never tolerate anything related to uranium mining and people encouraging uranium mining will be dealt with severely," HNLC "publicity secretary" Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement.	Statement
May 2	Rangthong/ South West Khasi Hills	East Khasi Hills Police have arrested HANM president Lamphrang Kharbani for his alleged links with the banned rebel outfit HNLC. "We had specific input that Kharbani recently had gone to Bangladesh to meet the top leaders of the HNLC," Police sources said. It is also revealed that among those arrested along with Kharbani, one was a former member of the banned outfit.	Non-Violent
May 3	NS	HANM president along with four others were produced in a court. The court remanded them in five-day Police custody. "All the arrested are having links with HNLC. We have also seized some demand notes along with the letter heads of the banned outfit," a senior police official said. Replying to a query, the senior Police also informed that the HANM president was helping the outfit in various ways including by generating fund for the council. The HANM president was arrested earlier on two occasions for illegal possession of arms. HNLC has demanded for the unconditional release of HANM president Lamphrang Kharbani and threatened to announce a total shutdown of all the State Government offices and departments including central government on May 8, 9, 12 and 13 if it is not met. Condemning the arrest of the HANM leader the HNLC said that the allegations made by the police are totally baseless and "has no grounds to stand upon."	Non-Violent
May 5	NS	Police detained a militant of ANVC-B identified as Thawar M Marak in Ranighat in West Khasi Hills. A pistol and three live ammunition were also seized from his possession. A case would be registered against him under appropriate sections, Police informed. Taking strong cognizance of the four-day office picketing call by HNLC the State Government appealed the public in general and Government employees in particular to refrain from paying heed to this unreasonable call and to carry on with their daily activities without any fear or apprehension of reprisals, HNLC has called a shutdown in Government offices on May 8, 9, 12 and 13 if arrested HNAM 'president' Lamphrang Kharbani and four others are not released immediately. HNLC 'publicity secretary' Sainkupar Nongtraw had earlier said the Police should release the arrested persons unconditionally. The HANM has lent its support to the four-day office picketing called by HNLC to secure the release of its president Lamphrang Kharbani, who was arrested for his alleged links with the once-dreaded terror group. "We strongly condemn police allegation against our president of having links with the HNLC," HANM 'general secretary' Damonmi S. Dkhar said in a statement.	Non-Violent
May 8	NS	The shut down called by HNLC failed to have any impact as State and Central Government Offices continued to function normally. The HNLC had called for a shutdown of government offices demanding the immediate release of HANM president Lamphrang Kharbani. HNLC had called for a four-day shutdown of all government (both state and central) offices from May 8, 9, 12, and 13. HANM president Lamphrang Kharbani and four others, who were arrested on May 2 for alleged links with HNLC have been remanded in Police custody for 14 days. The South West Khasi Hills SP Debangshu D Sangma, said that Police were now trying to establish links between the arrested HANM activists and the banned militant outfit HNLC.	Non-Violent
May 14	NS	PSO of the 'Commander in Chief' of HNLC Bobby Marwein, identified as Wanbor Khardewsaw alias Lung alias William S of Pyndensohsaw who had joined the militant outfit in 2002 surrendered before Police without any weapons, seven days after he managed to escape from the Police ambush at Dangar village of East Khasi Hills, near the Indo- Bangladesh border. On May 8 he along with another senior cadre identified as Wansing Umlong alias Muh were travelling together when the police laid an ambush. Wansing Umlong was caught but Khardewsaw managed to escape.	Non-Violent
May 25	NS	HNLC is attempting resurgence with recruitment including former Khasi Students Union (KSU) leader Frederick Kharmawphlang.	Statement
May 29	NS	HNLC to call a 12-hour shutdown on June 3 if the interim order of the NGT banning mining and transportation of coal in Meghalaya is not revoked by June 2.	Statement
May 29	NS	HNLC threatened to call a 12-hour shutdown on June 3 if the interim order of NGT banning mining and transportation of coal in Meghalaya is not revoked by June 2.	Statement
June 1	NS	HNLC threatened a fresh 24-hour bandh on June 10 of next day if NGT does not lift the ban on rat hole mining during its hearing on June 9.	Statement
June 8	Kolkata/West Bengal	Bengal Police arrested two OGWs identified as Albert Jaroa and Amar Sinha of HNLC.	Non-Violent
June 9	NS	HNLC has called for a 24-hour shut down staring from 6pm of June 10 following NGT refusal to revoke its interim order banning the rat-hole coal mining	Non-Violent
June 10	NS	Meghalaya Police left for Kolkata to bring back two OGWs identified as Albert Jaroa and Amar Sinha of HNLC.	Non-Violent
June 11	Khasi and Jaintia Hills	The 24 hour bandh called by HNLC which began on June 10 evening affected the entire Khasi and Jaintia Hill.	Non-Violent

Source:Compiled from news reports and are provisional.

BHARAT PRASAD

Sunday 6 July 2014

Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) MEGHALAYA

2012

Incidents and Statements involving HNLC: 2014

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