STAFF CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG: The security agencies at the Union and State government-levels are not likely to go for parleys with the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) even as fresh moves are being made by the State BJP leadership to move the Centre to accept the offer of the proscribed Khasi militant outfit for talks.
Terming the initiation as an attempt of a section of the State leadership as "parroting the Union government's policies to display that they are doing good", a very senior official told The Sentinel on Wednesday, "It looks like that the initiators are trying to pluck the low-lying fruits."
The official, who held one of the senior posts in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), said that "till then it was a Big No and hopefully it will go by the Big No to the offer of talks by the outfit that has lost its credibility. It's hyper stupid to accept the peace overtures of an outfit which is no more an irritant to the security force," stated the official, adding that they are no more than fringe criminal elements like the NDFB and others.
It may be mentioned that the HNLC has persistently offered to talk with the government. Knowing the outfit's actual strength, the security agencies have been advising that the existing leaders and cadres should surrender; and not to have any talks with them.
The then State Home Minister Robert Garnett Lyngdoh told The Sentinel, "Let them come and surrender but not as a group. They should be held accountable and made responsible for their past acts." He added that the government should learn from the past experiences of peace taks with various millitant groups that eventually led to many unwanted activities. "Don't give leeway to criminals because the consequences will be noticed subsequently."
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