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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox war faction
|name = Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council
|war = the [[Insurgency in Northeast India]]
|image = [[File:Flag of the HNLC.png|200px|border]]
|caption =
|leaders = Julius K. Dorphang{{Surrendered}}<br />Cheristerfield Thangkhiew {{KIA}}<br />M. Diengdoh<br />Bobby Marwein
|clans =
|ideology = [[Khasi people|Khasi]]-[[Synteng|Jaintia]] interests
|active = 
|headquarters =
|area = [[Meghalaya]], [[India]]
|size =
|predecessor =
|allies =
|international =
|opponents = {{flag|India|name=Government of India}}<br />{{flag|Bangladesh|name=Government of Bangladesh}}
}}

The '''Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council''' ([[Abbreviation|abbreviated]] '''HNLC''') is a militant organization operating in [[Meghalaya]], [[India]]. It claims to represent the [[Khasi people|Khasi]]-[[Synteng|Jaintia]] tribal people, and its aim is to free Meghalaya from the alleged domination of outsiders (the "Dkhars") from the Indian mainland. It was [[Government of India designated terrorist organisations|proscribed]] in India on 16 November 2000, but the ban was later lifted,<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110901/jsp/nation/story_14451032.jsp | title = Meghalaya rebel killed in Bangla brawl | author = Nishit Dholabhai | date = 2011-09-01 | accessdate = 2012-10-17 | newspaper = The Telegraph }}</ref><ref name="satp_hnlc">[http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/meghalaya/terrorist_outfits/HNLC.HTM Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC)]. South Asia Terrorism Portal.</ref> before banning it again in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Meghalaya-based insurgent group HNLC banned by government |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/meghalaya-based-insurgent-group-hnlc-banned-by-government/article30006855.ece |accessdate=20 December 2019 |work=The Hindu |agency=Press Trust of India |date=18 November 2019 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

== Origin ==
The [[Meghalaya]] state was carved out of the [[Assam]] state, with an aim to address the unique needs of the major tribes in the region: the [[Garo people|Garos]], the [[Synteng|Jaintias]] and the [[Khasi people|Khasi]]s. However, discontent grew among the tribals due to the alleged high-handedness of the security forces, the youth unemployment and the inability to compete with outsiders from mainland Indian businesses. This led to the rise of several insurgent groups in the state.

The origins of HNLC lie in the Hynniewtrep Achik Liberation Council (HALC), the first militant organization in Meghalaya, which claimed to be a representative of the three major tribes of the state. After a split occurred in HALC over tribal differences, the Garo members formed a new outfit called Achik Matgrik Liberation Army (AMLA), while the Khasi and Jaintia members formed the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) in 1993.<ref>{{cite book
| title = Problems of ethnicity in the North-East India
| author = Braj Bihari Kumar
| publisher = Concept
| year = 2007
| isbn = 978-81-8069-464-6
}}</ref>

The original HNLC leadership consisted of:
* Julius K. Dorphang, Chairman
* Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, General Secretary
* M. Diengdoh, Publicity Secretary
* Bobby Marwein, Commander-in-Chief

Julius K. Dorphang resigned and surrendered to the Government of India on 24 July 2007, as a result of the internal differences within HNLC.

== Area of operation ==
The HNLC primarily operates in the [[Khasi Hills]] region, and has carried out a number of terror activities in [[Shillong]], the capital of Meghalaya. The top HNLC leadership is based in [[Dhaka]], the capital of the neighbouring country [[Bangladesh]]. Some of its camps are also located in Bangladesh, mostly in the [[Chittagong Hill Tracts]].<ref name="satp_hnlc"/>

== Activities ==
The State Government and the Meghalaya police have accused HNLC of indulging in a number of illegal activities, including killing, abduction, robbery, arms smuggling, cattle smuggling and extortion in the Jaintia Hills coal belt. It has also been accused of circulating fake currency in the state, supported by the [[Inter Services Intelligence]] (ISI) of Pakistan.<ref name="satp_hnlc"/>

HNLC has claimed that it has tried to help the Khasi people and to make the society better. It launched Operation Kyllang (hurricane) to publicly punish rapists by torturing them, and claims to have reduced the crime in the Khasi Hills.<ref name="tehelka_blind_eye">[http://www.tehelka.com/story_main47.asp?filename=Ne231010For_money.asp ‘For money, Dhaka turned a blind eye to our activities’]. Tehelka Magazine, Vol 7, Issue 42, Dated 23 October 2010.</ref> It also calls for the boycott of the [[Indian Independence Day]] celebrations every year. It is opposed to the civil polls in Meghalaya, alleging that the elections would make the traditional tribal institutions powerless.<ref name="satp_hnlc"/>

== Funding and sourcing of weapons ==
Over the years, HNLC built ties with the other secessionist organizations operating in North-East India, including the [[National Socialist Council of Nagaland]]-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), the [[National Democratic Front of Bodoland]] (NDFB), the [[National Liberation Front of Tripura]] (NLFT) and the [[United Liberation Front of Asom]] (ULFA). NSCN provided it moral, physical and financial support in its initial days.<ref name="tehelka_blind_eye"/>

The organization has obtained the Chinese weapons sold by the [[Va people|Wa tribe]] of [[Burma]]. These weapons were brought to the black arms markets in [[Bandarban]] and [[Sylhet]] of Bangladesh via Manipur and Mizoram, after being picked along the Indo-Myanmar border.

HNLC runs several businesses in Bangladesh, including a stone quarry in [[Jaflong]] and several betel nut plantations.<ref name="tehelka_blind_eye"/>

== Decline ==
Several of the HNLC members have surrendered over the years. Julius K Dorphang, the former chairman of the outfit, who surrendered in 2007, claims that "HNLC is nothing now", with only 55 cadres left in Bangladesh as of 2010.<ref name="tehelka_blind_eye"/> He later became a politician, and successfully contested Meghalaya Legislative Assembly elections in 2013.

HNLC has expressed desire to hold political dialogues with the Meghalaya Government, including in August 2010. The Shillong Khasi Jaintia Church Leaders Forum was designated as the official negotiator with HNLC.<ref>[http://cdpsindia.org/meghalaya_insurgency.asp Overview: Insurgency & Peace Efforts in Meghalaya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208005717/http://cdpsindia.org/meghalaya_insurgency.asp |date=8 December 2010 }}. Centre For Development and Peace Studies (CDPS).</ref>

==See also==
* [[Insurgency in Northeast India]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Organisations based in Meghalaya]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Asia designated as terrorist]]
[[Category:Insurgency in Northeast India]]
[[Category:Paramilitary organisations based in India]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in Meghalaya]]
[[Category:Organisations designated as terrorist by India]]

Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council - Revision history

Bot at 11:34, 13 October 2022