Meghalaya regional party, United Democratic Party (UDP) has urged to the state government to make efforts to revive peace negotiations with the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), while underlining the importance of peace and security in the state. The appeal comes in the wake of an IED explosion at the Dhar Construction Company camp near Shymplong village in East Jaintia Hills district on December 15. The blast, which damaged a water tanker but caused no casualties or injuries, has been linked to the HNLC, raising alarms about the outfit’s attempts to reassert its influence.
UDP general secretary Titosstarwell Chyne, while speaking to mediapersons on Monday, recalled that the proscribed outfit had earlier engaged in peace talks, with some initial headway made. “However, we do not have the detailed information on why the negotiations did not progress further or why the HNLC withdrew from the process,” Chyne said. The UDP leader stressed that, both personally and on behalf of the party, the HNLC leadership has been requested to return to negotiating table for the greater good of peace and stability in the state.“We are optimistic that the state government would earnestly take initiatives to invite the HNLC to resume negotiations,” he said.