In the headlines recently, a ex-member of the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) was killed in a police encounter, causing a crisis in Meghalaya. The incident, carried out by police teams from East Khasi Hills and East Jaintia Hills, has resurfaced discussions on the history and current state of militancy in the region.
Meghalaya’s History of Militancy
Meghalaya, which shares a border with Bangladesh, has experienced years of migration from the neighboring country and other Indian states such as Bengal, Punjab, and Bihar. This migration has stirred anxieties among local communities who fear becoming minorities in their own homeland. These anti-outsider sentiments led to the formation of Meghalaya’s first militant group, the Hynniewtrep Achik Liberation Council (HALP), in 1992, which later split into the HNLC and the Achik Matgrik Liberation Army. Today, the HNLC strives to represent the interests of Khasi communities, while the Achik Matgrik Liberation Army demands a separate state for the Garo community.
Current Status of Militancy in Meghalaya
While the Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) has maintained a ceasefire agreement with the government since 2004, the HNLC has been attempting negotiation, albeit conditionally. Militancy in Meghalaya has largely been seen to decrease over the past few years, leading to the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Meghalaya in 2018 due to an 80% decrease in incidents related to insurgency.
Insurgencies in Other North Eastern States
Aside from Meghalaya, other North Eastern states have also experienced insurgency movements. These include the Naga Insurgency in Nagaland, the Mizo Movement in Mizoram, the United Liberation Front of Assam in Assam, the Bodoland Statehood Movement, and the United National Liberation Front in Manipur. Arunachal Pradesh saw its only case of indigenous insurgency with the rise of the Arunachal Dragon Force, renamed as the East India Liberation Front in 2001.
Implications of Insurgency
Insurgency has resulted in severe fatalities for both civilians and security forces in northeast India. It hinders economic policies in the region, particularly in Assam where oil and gas pipelines are targeted by militants. Due to instability, tourism has suffered, delaying the potential to link the economy of the northeast with Southeast Asian countries. The education sector has also been negatively affected, with schools in areas such as Tripura closing down due to fear of militant strikes
Countermeasures Against Insurgency
Two military operations, Operation Rhino and Bajrang, were launched against U.L.F.A. militants in Assam during the 1990s. Special powers were granted to armed forces under AFSPA to handle emergency conditions. Currently, most major insurgent groups in the region have entered into ceasefire agreements with the Union and/or state governments. The Inner Line Permit (ILP) imposes restrictions on outsider entry to preserve the identities of indigenous people in Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh. The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) is responsible for executing and monitoring development projects in the region.
Khasi Community
The Khasi community, an indigenous ethnic group of Meghalaya, is the largest tribe of Meghalaya. They have a distinct culture with property inheritance and succession to tribal office passed through the female line. The Khasi people cultivate wet rice as their main subsistence.
Garo Community
The Garos, or A’chiks as they call themselves, constitute the second largest tribe in Meghalaya. Their culture has been greatly influenced by Christianity. Garo tradition holds that they are originally from Tibet and have settled across the Garo Hills and surrounding plain lands.
Recommendations for the Future
To mitigate insurgency further, government measures should focus on enhancing communication and connectivity, improving infrastructure for better regional integration, and promoting coordination between central and state forces. Strengthening the criminal justice system for quick disposal of insurgent attack cases, encouraging socio-economic development, and fostering cultural interaction with the rest of the country are also essential.
Last Modified: February 13, 2024