HPC(D) claims responsibility for Mizoram ambush

Aizawl, Sep 4 (UNI) The Manipur-based Hmar People's Convention (Democratic) today claimed responsibility for Tuesday's ambush that killed four Indian Reserve police personnel in Mizoram.

In an e-mail sent to a local newspaper here, the HPC(D) stated that political reasons were behind the ambush and warned the Mizoram government that 'it was only the beginning'.

''The organisation also expresses profound sympathy to the police personnel who have died due to our political cause for which the Mizoram government was responsible,'' said the e-mailed statement signed by information secretary David L Hmar.

The outfit further accused the Mizo National Front government of harbouring certain underground organisations (from the neighbouring states) in Mizoram while ignoring those who have political demands in the state.

HPC(D) is an offshoot of the Hmar People's Convention (HPC), which came into existence in 1986, as a political party spearheading a movement for self-government in the north and northeast of Mizoram.

Consequent to nine rounds of talks, a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed between the Mizoram government and the HPC on July 27, 1994, for establishing the 'Sinlung Development Council' and subsequently, 308 HPC militants surrendered along with their arms.

However, dissatisfied with the implementation process, a section of the cadres parted ways with the overground HPC and formed the HPC(D) in 1995.

UNI ZS PL SV ND1606