Marwein is still alive : HNLC

Shillong, Sep 3 : Bobby Reagan Marwein, the elusive commander-in-chief of the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) is still alive, the outfit s spokesman Sainkupar Nongtraw said today.

Marwein, who had been hiding in Bangladesh over two decades, was reported to have been killed following a brawl in Bangladesh this week, by an English national daily yesterday.

In an e-mailed statement issued here today, Nongtraw said Marwein is fine, secured, healthy and unharmed.

Accusing the Centre of desperately finding a way to bury the HNLC chief alive, he said, this is proof by the false information given out to the media, and this is not the first time that they had spread unfounded propaganda on HNLC.

There is no such thing anywhere where HNLC Chief is involved in a brawl leading to his death. This is nothing but cheap propaganda, Nongtraw clarified. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma yesterday said he has sought for a detailed report from the Ministry of Home Affairs on the alleged killing of HNLC activist.

Since the incident was reported in another country, it is not possible for us to confirm or deny it.

I have sought for a report from the Centre to verify the news report, Dr Sangma told reporters. After the surrender of Julius Dorphang, the founding member of HNLC in 2007, Marwein, who has been hiding in Bangladesh for over decades, is the main man of the Khasi militant outfit.

The HNLC maintained closely linked with the the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and Tripura based National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT).

Proscribed on November 16, 2000, the HNLC was a product of a 1992 split in the Hynniewtrep A chik Liberation Council, the first militant tribal outfit in the state. The tribal Khasi militant outfit was formed with an objective to fight for a sovereign Hynniewtrep homeland .