HNLC leader surrenders
HNLC finance secretary Wankupar Marwein alias Bah Hep Trai Siej surrenders before Meghalaya DGP R Chandranathan in Shillong on Wednesday. Image credit – Twitter

Giving a major blow to the HNLC, the militant outfit’s finance secretary Wankupar Marwein alias Bah Hep Trai Siej surrendered before the Meghalaya DGP on Wednesday.

Wankupar Marwein, 42, a resident of Mawlai Nonglum at Shillong, surrendered before the Meghalaya director general of police (DGP) R Chandranathan at the state’s police headquarters in Shillong.

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Informing this, GK Iangrai, assistant inspector general of police (A), Meghalaya, said Wankupar Marwein alias Bah Hep Trai Siej was first arrested in 1999 on charges of being involved in various activities carried out by the HNLC.

Informing that Wankupar had arms training Bangladesh, Iangrai said: “After being released on bail, he (Wankupar) rejoined HNLC in 2000 and left for Bangladesh where he was imparted arms training in Chittagong Hill Tract by senior cadres of the HNLC.”

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Later, he was appointed as the finance secretary under the political wing of the outfit, the police official said.

It was in the recent months that the top HNLC leader decided to surrender and join the mainstream, said Iangrai.

Stating that Wankupar Marwein is a key member of the outfit holding the post of finance secretary, the police officer said, “His surrender came as a major blow to the HNLC outfit particularly the finance wing which is experiencing major crisis at present.”

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He added, “The HNLC organization is desperately trying to revive its strength and power in the state where several attempts were made to lure vulnerable sections of youth in the state to join its fold.”

Iangrai also claimed the activities of the HNLC are confined to issuing random press releases and its attempt to strengthen the organization, raising funds through extortions.

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Stating that the outfit has also been attempting fresh recruitment of cadres through the social media and sensationalizing their presence and strength by using IEDs, Iangrai said all such activities have “so far been thwarted effectively by state police”.