Meghalaya: HNLC leader Dorphang to resign

Shillong, Aug 3: Leader of banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) Julius K Dorphang has decided to quit the post of ''chairman'' of the tribal Khasi militant outfit.

''I will send my resignation to HNLC leaders very soon as there is some confusion regarding this in the media,'' Dorphang told reporters here yesterday.

Dorphang, who came overground a couple of weeks ago from his hideout in Bangladesh, decided to play the role of a negotiator to restore peace in the strife-torn Northeastern states.

Admitting that personal conflicts among top leaders of the HNLC had eroded the strength of the organisation, the HNLC chairman said he was even ready to bring other leaders of the outfit to the talks table.

Dorphang termed HNLC ''general secretary'' and ''commander-in-chief'' Bobby Marwien as the ''stumbling block'' in the peace process.

Rubbishing the recent HNLC statement that accused him of swindling the outfit's property worth more than Rs two crore, including arms of his security personnels, Dorphang said the allegations were ''baseless, unfounded, false and vindictive.''

UNI