Nine Meghalaya-based HNLC militants surrender in Tripura

Shillong, Feb 10 (UNI) At least nine Meghalaya-based Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) militants, including the outfit's ''second Commander-in-Chief'' Herman Pakyntein have surrendered before the Border Security Forces in Tripura, BSF officials said here today.

The nine escaped from the HNLC's hideout in Bangladesh and surrendered before the frontier guards at Panisagar's BSF Out Post in North Tripura, bordering the Indo-Bangla border on February 8.

The latest surrender of the HNLC cadres assumes significance in the backdrop of HNLC leaders trying to hold peace talks with the Union government.

The HNLC which operates in Meghalaya's Khasi and Jaintia Hills is fighting for a ''sovereign Hynniewtrep homeland'' for nearly a decade.

However, senior police officials here refused to divulge further details citing that they are still gleaning information from the surrendered militants.

UNI