Meghalaya Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang has stated that the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) is increasingly turning to social media platforms to recruit new members, allegedly luring youth with promises of high salaries and opportunities for community service.
Her remarks come in the wake of the recent surrender of HNLC area commander Samuel Wahlang Pahsyntiew. During interrogation, it was revealed that prospective recruits are typically asked to submit their EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) details prior to induction into the outfit.
The DGP further informed that two individuals, identified as Banjop and Donbok, were recently arrested from Umsning for their alleged involvement with the group. She noted that most recruitment efforts appear to have been conducted online. Preliminary investigations suggest that the outfit has reached out to youths across various parts of the Khasi-Jaintia region, although there is no confirmed information on how many may have crossed into Bangladesh.
Nongrang urged young people to remain cautious and avoid being misled by attractive financial offers, pointing to cases where individuals surrendered after brief associations with the group. Addressing internal challenges, she acknowledged a significant manpower shortage within the Meghalaya Police. While 2,800 new personnel are scheduled to be inducted in March, she clarified that they will require nine to ten months of basic training before being deployed in the field.
On the issue of illegal coal mining, the DGP refrained from detailed comments, citing that the matter is sub-judice. However, she confirmed that police teams continue to carry out raids and reported the seizure of approximately 62 metric tonnes of illegally mined coal on Friday alone.