RG Lyngdoh's no to HNLC truce rider

Staff Correspondent

Shillong, March 23: Former Meghalaya Home Minister Robert Garnet Lyngdoh, known for his tough policies against the militant groups, has welcomed the unilateral ceasefire announced by the proscribed Hynniewtrep tiol Liberation Council (HNLC) even as he cautioned the present establishment to restrain itself  from accepting the ‘rider’ laid by the proscribed outfit.

 Lyngdoh, now a Vice Chancellor of state recognized university, told this correspondent on Monday, “I don’t know about the legitimate rights of the people that the HNLC is looking for. But let it be within the ambit of the Indian Constitution”.

Lyngdoh said, “I welcome those who wanted to usher in peace in our state but don’t let the crimils get out of the hook in the me of peace talks”. Interestingly, it was in his tenure in the early 2000 that there were unwarranted killings by the militants before the HNLC top shots surrendered before authorities. Lyngdoh, however, refused to take credit though the police hierarchy acknowledged his support that helped quell the HNLC in 2003-2004.

Notwithstanding the HNLC’s response to the peace overtures offered by the government, sources involved in the prime time of the counter insurgency operations in Khasi-Jaintia Hills felt that any unconditiol acceptance to the Khasi armed outfit offer will demoralize the police force.

The chairman of the HNLC Julius Dorphan had surrendered before the Chief Minister. So did the senior most functiories who left behind the self style commander-in-chief (c-in-c) Bobby Marwein and genereal secretary Cheristerfeid Thangkhiew.

Sources said that Thangkhiew and Marwein shuffles between two districts of Bangladesh, leaving a 20-odd cadres in Chittagong district of Bangladesh.

Bobby alias Regan Marwein is not in good health, informed a source.