landmarks

2011

  • January 5: Authorities relax curfew for three hours in Mendipathar in Meghalaya's East Garo district that witnessed ethnic violence.
  • January 10: Two more people are killed and 12 injured in fresh violence in riot-hit areas of Meghalaya-Assam border. Several houses and trucks carrying supplies to the riot-hit areas in Meghalaya were also torched Sunday night at Paikan area on the tense inter-state border.
  • January 10: The Joint Secretary (North East) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Sambhu Singh visits the ethnic riot-hit areas along the Assam-Meghalaya border to assess the ground situation. A fresh incident of exchange of fire takes place along the border.
  • January 11: A fresh clash between Rabhas and Garos force the administration to revoke its decision to relax curfew in ethnic violence-hit Resubelpara sub-division of Meghalaya. Around 50,000 people displaced in the ethnic violence that began on January 1.
  • February 18: On condition of anonymity, a Home Ministry official reveals that following crackdown on Northeast militants in Bangladesh, the HNLC sent fresh feelers to the Centre expressing the outfit's interest for dialogue.
  • February 24: The district administration of East Garo Hills organize a peace meeting in Resubelpara mini stadium in East Garo Hills district with more than 1000 people from both the Garo and Rabha communities participating in large numbers to help restore permanent peace between the two communities in the wake of last month’s ethnic strife that led to the deaths of around 10 persons from both sides.
  • March 31: In a press release issued by its department of ‘Information and Publicity Secretary’ John F Hmar, the HPC-D alleges that the repeated attempts by the Government of Mizoram to dictate terms and conditions outside the purview of SoO Agreement was an attempt to sabotage the peace process.
  • March 31: The HPC-D decried that the pre-conditions set by the Mizoram Government have not only betrayed the spirit and mutual trust but also seriously tarnished the credibility of Mizoram Government and its presumed seriousness for the talks. It further condemned the attitude of Mizoram Government as divisive and a sinister attempt to further thwart the political aspirations of the Hmar people.
  • April 15: Meghalaya Home Minister H.D.R Lyngdoh says that the Government will investigate the alleged nexus between the GNLA militants and some Police. "It could be only a suspicion (nexus between GNLA and police personnel), but we will conduct an investigation to establish these linkages," Lyngdoh told journalists.
  • May 8: The ANVC which is under a "Suspension of Operation" agreement with the government is concerned that processing of their demands would be delayed further if there is yet another Government change.

2010

  • March 16: Government interlocutor PC Halder holds the first round of talks with the banned Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) and the political demands of the group were discussed. ANVC spokesman Torik J Marak said that the discussion was encouraging and the group has come to a “certain level of understanding” with the Centre’s representatives. The demands include an autonomous council for Garo Hills area on the lines of Assam Bodoland Autonomous Council.
  • March 23: The Centre extends the ceasefire with the banned Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) of Meghalaya by three months, from April 1, 2010.
  • March 24: The Central Government says that it is looking at the demand for an autonomous Garo Council sympathetically and hoping to finalize modalities for such a council in the next three months.
  • June 30: Tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Achik National Volunteers’ Council (ANVC), Meghalaya is extended by three months from July 1. Ceasefire between ANVC and Government of India are on since July 23, 2004 and is currently valid till June 30.
  • August 7: The outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) appeals to the people to join their boycott of the Independence Day celebrations. As a mark of protest to the celebration of Independence Day in Hynniewtrep land, the HNLC has called for a 36-hour shutdown from 6 p.m. Aug 14 to 6 a.m. Aug 16. The Khasi rebel group also called for a night curfew Aug 12 and 13 from 10 pm to 5 am on both the days.
  • August 13: Meghalaya Minster in-charge of Home H.D.R. Lyngdoh says that the Police have intelligence inputs of 10 to 12 HNLC militants managing to infiltrate into the State from Bangladesh with weapons.
  • August 13: The HNLC reiterates its objection to holding of civic polls in the State saying the elections would snatch away the power of the traditional institutions.
  • August 15: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma expresses concern over the activities of new militant outfits and those from Assam as a 36-hour shutdown by the HNLC paralysed life in four Khasi-Jaintia districts of the State on Independence Day. The report adds that a group of HNLC cadres armed with AK56 rifles and grenades had entered Meghalaya from Bangladesh to strike in the capital town of Shillong.
  • August 16: The HNLC reiterates its desire to hold talks and asked the Meghalaya Government to "show seriousness for lasting peace" in the State.
  • August 16: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma says his Government is always ready to have a political dialogue with the HNLC. Responding to the statement issued by the HNLC reiterating the outfit''s desire to hold talks "provided there is seriousness on the part of the government," the Chief Minister says the Government would be pleased to have the modalities for the dialogue.
  • August 19: Shillong Times reports that surrendered HNLC cadres are slowly taking charge over some crucial business interests in Meghalaya. Sources said the surrendered cadres are also getting the bulk of contract works in North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU). The unemployed youths in the State allege that the Government is tilted towards the surrendered militants instead of encouraging educated youths for productive growth.
  • August 20: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma seeks a status report on the allegations against surrendered HNLC militants interfering into affairs of the NEHU in Shillong and also being involved in cattle smuggling.
  • August 25: According to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, while the year 2009 was a distinct improvement on the year 2008, it is in the 2010 that has seen a dramatic decline in the number of incidents and in the number of casualties in the Northeast. There have been only 464 incidents until August 15, as against 1,297 and 1,561 for the whole year in 2009 and 2008 respectively.
  • August 27: The HNLC changes its earlier pro-talk stance stating that it had no "agenda" to have peace talks with the Government.
  • August 29: The HNLC is borrowing arms from other militant groups and pay in return after doing the "job" (extortion) with the "instrument". "The delivery power of the banned outfit has decreased so much that it is borrowing arms from others to carry out operations," says S.K. Jain, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Special Branch.
  • August 29: The HNLC maintains an on-and-off relationship with the NSCN-IM, NDFB and NLFT, according to the ADGP who also says that the outfit's nexus with ULFA is not yet ascertained.
  • August 29: The Meghalaya Government assures the ANVC of releasing the funds for maintaining the outfit's designated camps.
  • August 30: State Chief Secretary W.M.S. Pariat says that Meghalaya Government is trying to expedite the entire talk process. While defending the Government for the delay in talks, the Chief Secretary said, "These matters require a lot of ground work and hence the delay."
  • August 30: The HNLC refutes reports that the outfit had borrowed arms from other militant groups for their activities.

2009

  • January 23: The HNLC calls for a boycott of the Republic Day (January 26) celebrations in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills areas.

 

  •  May 1: According to official sources, the Government has laid down guidelines that only in exceptional and deserving cases militants who surrender without arms and ammunition may be considered for rehabilitation under the government package. However, most of the recent surenderees (without arms and ammunition), the official maintained, were far from “exceptional and deserving” cases, but provided with the rehabilitation package.

 

2008

  • January 9: Meeting between senior Meghalaya Government officials and top ANVC leaders at the Circuit House in Tura. Government terms the talks outcome as positive.
  • February 4: According to a report in TheTelegraph, the HNLC renewed its alliance with the NSCN-IM.
  • March 14: The surrendered HNLC militants decided to ask the Meghalaya Government for general amnesty.
  • May 28: The LAEF's new 'commander-in-chief' Daria Sangma reconfirmed Meghalaya Police’s claim that the LAEF has forged ties with the Assam-based Black Widow (BW) outfit. According to him, it was in the interest of consolidating the LAEF to pursue its goal of a ‘separate Garo state’.
  • July 23: The Union Government extends the cease-fire with the ANVC for an indefinite period for the first time, unlike the earlier periodical review of the cease-fire with the militant group.
  • August 16: The banned HNLC expresses willingness to come to the negotiating table with the Centre but with a “mutual respect for each others’ sentiments”.
  • September 12: Meghalaya Police (SP of Shillong) states Northeast militant groups, including DHD, BW, NDFB, and ULFA, are using Shillong as a transit point for arms deal.
  • October 24: HNLC 'publicity secretary' Sainkupar Nongtraw rejects talks offer made by Meghalaya Director General of Police B. K. Dey Sawian. The HNLC says that it had sent a letter to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2003 offering to hold talks, adding the outfit was yet to get a reply from the Centre. The six points of HNLC to be included in the cease-fire agreement with the Centre include: lifting of the ban on the outfit, talks in a "neutral" country with safe passage to its cadres, supporters and sympathizers and a transparent agenda for talks.

2007

  • May 23: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal extends the ban on ANVC for two more years. The order will remain in force till May 15, 2009.
  • July 24: HNLC chairman Julius K. Dorphangalong and four of his bodyguards surrender before security forces in state capital Shillong. However, no weapons are deposited by the HNLC insurgents.

2006

  • May 28: ANVC asks the Union Government to withdraw the ban imposed on it for facilitating peace talks.
  • July 11: The ceasefire agreement between the Union Government and ANVC is extended by one more year.
  • September 11: The newly formed Garo outfit, Achik National Liberation Front Army (ANLFA), allegedly accuses the Meghalaya Government of being soft on the ANVC, which is currently under a cease-fire with the Union and State Governments. The ANLFA alleges that the State Government is turning a blind eye to the ‘atrocities’ committed by the ANVC cadres in Garo Hills.
  • November 9: The Union Government further extends the ban imposed on ANVC.

2005

  • January 17: The ceasefire agreement between the Union Government and ANVC is extended for a further period of six months.
  • January 24: An armed group of HNLC insurgents loot Rs. 93 lakhs from the Meghalaya Co-operative Apex Bank branch at Khliehriat in Jaintia Hills district.
  • March 25: HNLC insurgents abduct Man Bahadur Pradhan, manager of a coal export firm at Sutnga in Jaintia Hills district.
  • July 18: The ceasefire agreement between the Union Government and ANVC is extended for a year with effect from July 23, 2005.
  • July 25: The finance secretary of HNLC, Yit Sun, and five other insurgents surrender before the police in Shillong.
  • December 23: The vice-chairman of HNLC, Teilang Thangkhiew, is arrested by the police from a hideout at Pohkseh in capital Shillong.

2004

  • July 23: ANVC signs a tripartite agreement with the Union and Meghalaya Governments for suspension of hostilities with immediate effect. The signatories to the agreement included A.K.Rastogi, Secretary in MHA; P.J. Bazeley, Chief Secretary of Meghalaya; and Wanding K Marak, the general secretary of ANVC.
  • July 28: A new militant group, United Achik National Front (UANF), formed in the Garo Hills. Two UANF cadres were killed by South Garo Hills Police.
  • December 9: A Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) meeting is held between the banned ANVC and representatives of MHA and the Meghalaya Government in New Delhi. It is decided at the meeting that the cadres of ANVC will stay in two designated camps in Garo Hills region.
  • December 22: Union Government extends the ban on ANVC.

2003

  • January 3: The Union Home Ministry extends the ban imposed on ANVC.
  • April 23: There are unconfirmed reports that preliminary discussions have taken place between the Union Government and ANVC on an unspecified date in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.
  • May 14: The assistant finance secretary of HNLC, Heston Bohphang, is arrested from his residence at Umpling in capital Shillong.
  • June 7: Two HNLC insurgents, including the general secretary of HNLC’s finance wing, are arrested by Meghalaya police from Nongrim Hills locality of capital Shillong.
  • June 14: Paul Lyngdoh, a senior finance wing member of HNLC, is arrested by Meghalaya police from a hideout near Nongthymmai in Shillong.
  • August 20: The political secretary of HNLC, Mardor Bamon, is arrested by police from Mawlai in East Khasi Hills district.
  • September 27: The western wing commander-in-chief of HNLC, Delphinus Myrthong, is killed in an encounter with security forces near Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills district.
  • October 15: The publicity wing secretary of HNLC, Edward Charles Synder, is arrested by police from a cyber café in capital Shillong.

2002

  • March 6: HNLC insurgents attack the office of the Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills district. However, no casualty is reported.
  • August 20: Cabinet decides not to implement POTA in the State stating that existing laws are sufficient to deal with the situation.
  • December 9: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA ) establishes contact with ANVC and announces that peace talks with the insurgent outfit are likely to be held in Delhi in 2003.

2001

  • January 5: HNLC insurgents attack a businss establishment in Shillong, killing five civilians and injuring four others.
  • March 1: HNLC insurgents abduct a Seng Khasi leader Rijoy Khongshah. He is killed three days later on March 4.
  • October 23: HNLC chairman Julius K. Dorphang informs that the outfit has killed Ching Thangkhiew, the commander-in-chief of an insurgent outfit called North East Red Army (NERA), for allegedly assisting security force personnel.

2000

  • March 13: Meghalaya Chief Minister E. K. Mawlong signs an agreement with his Assam counterpart Prafulla Kumar Mahanta to co-operate in counter-insurgency operations.
  • November 16 : TheUnion Government imposes a ban on the ANVC with immediate effect under the provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 .
  • November 26: Meghalaya disapproves the Prevention of Terrorist Activities (POTA) Bill, stating that existing laws are adequate to deal with law-and-order and terrorism in the State.
  • December 10: Leaders of the church in Meghalaya offer to act as mediators to bring insurgent groups of the state to the negotiating table.

1995

  • December: The Achik National Volunteer Council ( ANVC) is founded. The outfit’s declared aim is to carve out a homeland for Garos in Garo inhabited areas of Meghalaya and Assam.

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