Aizawl, Sep 5 : Security forces in Mizoram have stepped up operations after a little known tribal rebel group killed four policemen in an ambush earlier this week, fuelling fears of militant activities beginning to take roots in the northeastern state after over two decades of absolute peace in the region.
A police spokesman said rebels of the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) (HPC-D) gunned down four security personnel, including a sub-inspector of Mizoram Armed Police (MAP) in Kolasib Tuesday.
‘About 13 MAP personnel were on their way to Saipum carrying monthly salaries and rations for their colleagues guarding the Serlui hydel power complex when they came under attack. Four policemen died on the spot and three were injured,’ said L.T. Hrangchal, Aizawl district superintendent of police.
Saipum is about 145 km north of state capital Aizawl.
HPC(D) has threatened more such attacks and create violence in the state, bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Political reasons were behind the ambush and we warn the Mizoram government that it was only the beginning, HPC(D) said in a statement.
We express our deep sympathies to the police personnel who died due to our political cause for which the Mizoram government was responsible, said the statement signed by HPC(D) information secretary David L. Hmar.
In view of the Tuesday’s militants’ attack, we have alerted all the police stations in the state’s southern and northern region and asked the security forces to maintain maximum vigil, said C. Ropianga, Mizoram home secretary.
HPC (D) is a breakaway faction of the Hmar People’s Convention (HPC), which came into existence in 1986 spearheading a movement for the right to self-determination in the north and northeast of Mizoram.
At the initiative of then Mizoram governor Swaraj Kaushal, nine rounds of talks were held after which a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed between the Mizoram government and the HPC July 27, 1994, for establishing the ‘Sinlung Hills Development Council’. Later 308 HPC guerrillas surrendered to the government.
However, disappointed with the implementation process of the accord, a section of the cadres parted ways with the HPC, now a over ground political organization, and formed the HPC(D) in 1995.
It may be mentioned that Mizoram was free from all insurgencies since 1986 after the Mizo National Front signed an accord with New Delhi, putting an end to 20 years of bush war in the state. The MNF is now ruling the state.
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