Three Hmar militants apprehended
Source: Lalremlien Neitham *
Jiribam, January 09 2013:
Hmar People's Convention (Democratic) faction leader Lalhmingthang Sanate and two of his close associates were apprehended by the Assam Rifles on January 7 during a raid in Jiribam (Manipur) .
The two other members of the outfit are self-styled information secretary JC Hmar and 'sergeant' L.Hmar.
A 9mm pistol was also recovered from them, according to sources.
The arrested Hmar militants have been handed over to the police, said a source.
Playing it safe this time, Mizoram home minister R.Lalzirliana said the Congress government has not issued any directive to arrest the HPC(D) leader.
"Mizoram government has nothing to do with the arrests," Lalzirliana said, adding he was unaware of any criminal cases against the arrested Hmar militants as they "have not created any disturbances in Mizoram ever since the Congress came to power in Mizoram" .
It may be noted that, the HPC(D) leadership had "impeached" its president and founder member Lalhmingthang Sanate for allegedly going against the group's interests and "aspirations of the Hmar people".
Sanate was accused of signing a deal with the Kuki militant group Kuki National Organisation (KNO) "without" taking into confidence the rebel outfit's council members.
Sanate refused to resign as president and since then formed his faction of the HPC(D) with few members.
Since then the HPC(D) was divided into two factions � one led by 'chairman' H.Zosangbera and the other by 'president' Lalhmingthang.
In between, Mizoram police arrested three top leaders of Zosangbera's faction last year.
It's 'commander-in-chief' Lalropuia and 'deputy army chief' Biaknunga were arrested on June 10, 2012 at Silchar Airport by Mizoram Police while on their way to meet the All Party Leaders Committee (APLC) of SHDC to re-initiate peace process after the failed Suspension of Operations (SoO) signed between the Mizoram government and the HPC(D) in 2010.Continuing its crackdown on the HPC(D), the Mizoram Police also took into custody the outfit's chairman H.Zosangbera on July 17, 2012 at the Delhi Airport while the rebel leader was on his way to meet Ministry of Home Affairs officials.
Meanwhile, the local court in Aizawl has cleared the bail applications of the three HPC(D) leaders on January 8."They will be out on bail after a security bond has been finalised," said a source.
The HPC(D) has been demanding creation of a Hmar Autonomous District Council in Mizoram since 1986 .
* The sender of this news can be contacted at lalremlien(at)gmail(dot)com .