Shillong, March 17: Unlike the Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) and other major militant outfits in the Northeast, the Centre has downplayed the demand of the Khasi hills-based militant outfit, Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), to initiate peace talks with it.
With largescale exodus of HNLC cadres and their dwindling influence for the past several years, Delhi does not have any immediate plan to hold talks with the outfit.
Downplaying the question on any peace talks with the HNLC, the joint secretary, home in charge of the Northeast, Naveen Verma, told The Telegraph, “The chairman of HNLC and majority of the cadres are already here.”
He, however, welcomed others, who are still underground, to join the mainstream.
The Centre hopes that the remaining HNLC cadres and leaders will come overground and hence the need to initiate talks with them does not arise at this juncture.
HNLC chairman Julius Dophang came overground in September 2007 and has urged other leaders to follow suit.
After Dorphang came overground, there was largescale exodus of HNLC cadres from their camps in Bangladesh.
Verma indicated that since the majority of the HNLC cadres have already joined the mainstream, the Centre does not see the logic in having immediate talks. “But if the cadres who are still away wants to come forward, they are welcome,” he said.
The largescale surrender of militants, including that of HNLC chairman Dorphang, was a setback to the group formed two decades ago and fighting for an independent Khasi homeland.