No action against Indian insurgents in Bangladesh, HNLC leader

Shillong, July 27 (UNI) The caretaker government in Bangladesh is yet to take action against Northeast-based insurgents taking refuge in its territory.

''In Bangladesh, there is no danger or threat from any quarters against us (militants). We are not even aware of such crackdown against us,'' Chairman of the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) Julius K Dorphang told reporters yesterday after he came overground from his hideout in Bangladesh on July 23.

Dorphang's statement assumed significance in the backdrop of the Bangladeshi authorities' assurance to India that it would not allow any terrorist or insurgent groups to use its territory for militant activities against India.

However, the revelation of the tribal Khasi militant leader indicated that Bangladesh was still not taking any action against the NE-based insurgent groups like the ULFA, NSCN (I-M), NLFT, NDFB, ANVC, HNLC, KLO and others located in Bangladesh.

India had asked Bangladesh to dismantle all the 176 camps and hideouts belonging to various NE-based insurgent groups entrenched in its territory.

The banned HNLC, fighting for sovereign Hynniewtrep island, had camps at Isla, Borlekha, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Shrimangal, Panai and Isasarah areas in that country.

India and Bangladesh share a 4,095 km border, including 1879 km with Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

''I have not witnessed any operations against us in Bangladesh,'' the HNLC militant leader reiterated.

He, however, did not indicate the reason behind the Bangladesh government's mild attitude towards the insurgents.

Asked on whether NE-based insurgents had Bangladesh's political patronage, Dorphang denied of having such patronage and said, ''There is more danger if we depend on foreign institutions rather than those at home.'' Dorphang, who had vowed before Chief Minister D D Lapang that he would abjure the path of violence, claimed that he was still keen to negotiate the proposed peace process with the Centre and Meghalaya government.

The militant leader, who claimed to be still the Chairman of the HNLC, had offered to play the role of a ''Negotiator'' to restore peace in the troubled NE states.

UNI