Afsara Shaheen
On January 22, 2025, the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) accused the Meghalaya Police of using the surrendered cadres as weapons against it. In a statement, HNLC ‘general secretary-cum-publicity secretary’ Sainkupar Nongtraw claimed the government’s actions during and after the peace talks with the HNLC demonstrate “bad faith diplomacy.”
He added, “Summoning our leaders during negotiations was not a step toward peace but an act of coercion, proving they sought control, not dialogue. Now, targeting lower-ranking members is a deliberate attempt to intimidate and fragment our movement – a textbook example of the divide-and-rule strategy.”
Earlier, on January 20, 2025, HNLC issued a new ‘manifesto’ demanding recognition of a ‘semi-sovereign status’ for the Hynniewtrep people, while accusing the Indian government of violating decades-old agreements. The 10-chapter ‘manifesto’ focuses on violations of the 1947 Standstill Agreement and claims the Instrument of Accession (IOA) was signed under coercion. “These agreements, intended to safeguard our autonomy, were signed under coercion and amidst grave injustices perpetrated by the Government of India,” the manifesto states. The HNLC presented four key demands to the central government, including acknowledgement of the IOA violations and direct dialogue for autonomy restoration. The manifesto further outlines a vision for self-governance, including control over land resources and cultural practices.
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