Amid the crackdown of Bangladesh security agencies on North East militants, Meghalaya Chief Minister DD Lapang on Saturday asked the leaders of the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) to surrender ’honourably’.
“We appeal to the HNLC leadership to come over-ground and work with the government. We have sent a message to the top leaders to surrender honourably,” Mr. Lapang told reporters.
Indicating that he was not averse to giving safe passage to militant leaders, he said, “The government has provision for surrendered cadres to ensure that they lead a good life in the mainstream.
“We have been repeatedly persuading the Government of India to take up the issue with Bangladesh. Now with the arrest of the ULFA leaders, Bangladesh is acting positively to ensure that the militants do not take shelter or operate training camps from that country,” the chief minister said.
Since last month, Bangladesh has pushed back ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, four other top leaders of the outfit and their families to Indian authorities even as the government claimed that the rebel leaders surrendered. Some other leaders of North East rebel group’s, including NLFT chairman Biswamohan Devberma, is also believed to have been detained in the neighbouring country.
Keywords: Meghalaya, Militant groups in North East, HNLC, NLFT,
