Insurgency / Meghalaya

Shillong, Feb. 26: A Meghalaya customs official, released from militant custody recently, has provided police with valuable information on links between rebels of the Northeast and Bangladesh army personnel.

L.H. Faihrem, who was released by the banned Achik National Volunteers? Council (ANVC) and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) on February 19 after months in captivity, said during interrogation that the militants had kept him in a hideout in Bangladesh, senior police officials said.

A senior police official, in charge of investigating the case, said Faihrem had also...

New Delhi, Feb. 25: Purno A. Sangma has finally cleared the air on his links with militants. The Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker came out strongly last night against allegations that sought to identify him closely with the banned Garo organisation.

The A?chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) had openly declared its support to the Tura MP, reportedly asking people to vote for him, and lauded his ability as a political leader. ?There is no verification of the statements issued by the ANVC. That it has asked the people to vote in my favour has not been verified...

Shillong, Feb. 16: Negotiations between the Achik National Volunteers? Council (ANVC) and New Delhi have received a boost with both sides agreeing to carry forward the talks in a meeting scheduled for next month. Of late, the ANVC has expressed its desire to quit the path of violence and join the mainstream.

Top leaders of the outfit recently told The Telegraph that the ANVC is ?committed to bring back peace in the Garo hills?.

On February 8, Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga, back from Bangkok after his meeting with the NSCN (I-M) leaders, said at least three Northeast militants groups have...

New Delhi, Feb. 8: Back from another peacemaking mission to Bangkok, Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga said leaders of as many as three militant groups of the Northeast were expected to visit New Delhi within a month to begin negotiations with the Centre.

The militant leader-turned-politician met leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and a couple of other groups during his visit to the Thailand capital. He undertook the mission at the behest of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Zoramthanga said he held ?extensive? discussions with the NSCN (I-M) leadership on...

SHILLONG, Feb 6 ? Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang on Thursday alleged that the NCP leader P A Sangma's link with militants has now been proved with the banned Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) openly backing him in the coming Lok Sabha polls reports PTI.

The issue of Sangma playing the facilitator between the outfit and the Centre had led to acrimony last year with Lapang terming it as 'unauthorised' and welcoming any individual or organisation if their proposals came through the government.

?It (link) has been proved now," Lapang told reporters here and said Sangma would be held...

Shillong, Feb. 5: Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang has accused former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A. Sangma of ?conniving? with militants to hold his own in Meghalaya politics.

Reacting to the open appeal by the Garo Hills-based outfit, the Achik National Volunteers? Council (ANVC), asking voters to support Sangma and his party in the February 12 district council elections, Lapang told the media today that the plea undoubtedly proved a close and clandestine link. ?It has proved beyond doubt that Sangma is involved with the ANVC,? Lapang said.

The outfit?s chairman, Dilash Marak alias Susime...

Tura, Feb. 2: Breaking its silence over the Centre and the Meghalaya government?s peace overtures, the banned Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) today said it was finally ready for talks.

In an e-mail to The Telegraph, its chairman Dilash Marak, alias Susime Marak, said a five-member delegation was constituted at the executive committee?s meeting on January 10 to finalise the modalities for peace talks.

This is the first clear statement by the ANVC chief, believed to be in Bangladesh, on the Centre and the Meghalaya government?s offer to hold a dialogue with the militant group.

Meghalay...

Shillong, Feb. 1: Meghalaya police today claimed to have broken the backbone of the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), citing the surrender of some top leaders of the group during the past fortnight as a sign of panic in its ranks.

?The reason for the cracks in the HNLC is very simple. The demolition of the outfit?s finance wing and our sustained crackdown on its combatant cadres during the last two years choked its lifeline, which is money,? a senior police official said.

?The distance between three top leaders of the outfit over various issues is growing. This is the key...

SHILLONG, Jan 31 ? Cadres of the banned militant outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) of Meghalaya are trained in different camps in Bangladesh and have close links with a Khasia association of the neighbouring country, a senior police official said here today, reports PTI.

?They (HNLC) have their training camps at the Chittagong hill tracts and also got some safe houses at places like Srimangal, Maulavi bazar and Pannai,? Superintendent of Police in East Khasi Hills district, A S Rynjah, told reporters. At least 15-20 HNLC cadres were trained in each camp before they were...

TURA, Dec 20?In view of the Bhutan offensive against the ULFA, NDFB and KLO militants, and the likely attempt by the fleeing militants to enter West Garo Hills before crossing into Bangladesh, the entire border of Garo Hills with Assam has been sealed. Night curfew has been imposed in the bordering areas of Tikrikilla extending upto Goalpara in Assam, and the military-infested areas of Bajendoba and Pedaldoba in East Garo Hills. Two companies of the army are already inside the Garo Hills assisting three companies of the CRPF and the Garo Hills Police in sealing the Assam Garo Hills border. An...