Hmar People's Convention- Democracy

Hmar People's Convention Democracy

Formation

Hmar People's Convention- Democracy (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. The Hmars, who according to the 1991 census, were 12,535 in number in Mizoram, were disappointed with the contents of the Mizo Peace Accord of 1986, which failed to address their demand of a 'Greater Mizoram' integrating all areas inhabited by Hmars in Mizoram, Assam and Manipur under a single administrative unit. Since April 1987, the HPC waged an armed struggle for autonomy, which touched extreme levels of violence towards 1991. Hmar cadres abducted tea executives and triggered off a spate of extortions in the Hmar inhabited areas of the States of Mizoram, Assam and Manipur.

In 1992, HPC representatives and the Government of Mizoram mutually agreed to hold ministerial level talks. Consequent to nine rounds of such talks, a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed at the Mizoram capital Aizawl 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 over ground HPC and formed the HPC-D in 1995. 

Objective

The purported objective of the outfit over the years has changed from an autonomous district covering the north and northeast Mizoram to an independent Hmar State (Hmar ram) consisting of the Hmar inhabited areas of Mizoram, Manipur and Assam.

Leadership

The outfit's 'commander-in-chief' is Lalrupui. Its military wing is headed by Laltuolien Hmar. While Lalbieknunga functions as its 'deputy commander-in-chief', Lalrawngbawl Pulamte is the 'information and publicity secretary' of the outfit. The cadre strength of the outfit is estimated to be between 100 and 150.
In July 2003 during the Hmar-Dimasa conflict in the North Cachar (NC) Hills district of Assam, the HPC-D formed an armed wing, the Hnam Santu (Hmar Protection Cell), under the leadership of 'chief commander' Laltuolien Hmar, to protect the interests of the Hmars from the alleged onslaught of the DHD. The outfit conducted a successful recruitment drive and inducted several young Hmar boys and girls from across the NC Hills and Cachar district into the newly formed cell. 

Areas of Operation

The outfit is active primarily in Mizoram; the Hmar inhabited areas of Churachandpur district in Manipur, and the Cachar (with base camps in the Bhuban hill range) and North Cachar Hills districts of Assam.

Often, the outfit has used the Bhuban hill range in Cachar district and the Jinam valley area of the North Cachar hills located at the intersection of Manipur, Nagaland and Assam to set up base camps and plan operations. 

Source of Funding

The outfit collects 'protection fees' from the timber mafia in the Cachar district of Assam. Substantial funds are also reportedly generated in foreign countries, notably in the United States, by protagonists of the struggle in the name of protecting Hmar Christians.

There are also reports that the outfit collects protection money from the Hmar tribals.

Arms & Explosives

Over the years, the HPC-D militants have gained access to sophisticated arms like rifles of the AK series, assault rifles of the G3 series and explosives.

However, access to such sophisticated arms is still limited and majority of the outfit's cadres use SBBL single barrel guns, and ordinary country made rifles and pistols. 

Linkages with Other Groups

HPC-D, since its formation, has aligned with several insurgent groups active in India’s northeast. In its formative years, it maintained a cordial relationship with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), which allegedly provided it with arms and training. It has also carried out attacks with the support of the Manipur-based outfit, the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

In May 2001, the HPC-D joined the Indigenous People's Revolutionary Alliance (IPRA) - a platform of the five Zo ethnic militant groups: the Zomi Reunification Organisation (ZRO), two factions of the Kuki National Front, the KNF-P and KNF-MC, the Kuki National Army (KNA) and the HPC-D. However, at least two incidents of internecine clashes were reported between the HPC-D and the ZRA, the armed wing of the ZRO, during 2004 in the Churachandpur district of Manipur. This finally led to the signing of a ‘truce agreement’ between both these outfits on April 7, 2004, at an unspecified location in Manipur.

Over the years, the HPC-D has also maintained links with other Hmar militant outfits. In July 1998, the HPC-D joined hands with the Hmar Revolutionary Force (HRF).

The outfit is also believed to have maintained strategic links with the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF), a Mizoram-based group.

In Assam, the HPC-D is known to have some linkages with certain Islamist terrorist outfits. 

Major incidents involving HPC-D 2011 

• March 31: The HPC-D has slammed the Government of Mizoram for purportedly putting strategic impediments in the run up to the Hmar-Government of Mizoram political talks by insisting on new and narrow pre-conditions and interpretations in clear violation of the mutually agreed ground rules. In a press release issued by its department of ‘Information and Publicity Secretary’ John F Hmar, the HPC-D alleged that the repeated attempts by the Government of Mizoram to dictate terms and conditions outside the purview of SoO Agreement was an attempt to sabotage the peace process.
• The HPC-D decried that the pre-conditions set by the Mizoram Government have not only betrayed the spirit and mutual trust but also seriously tarnished the credibility of Mizoram Government and its presumed seriousness for the talks. It further condemned the attitude of Mizoram Government as divisive and a sinister attempt to further thwart the political aspirations of the Hmar people. 
• March 13: The HPC-D alleged that after much deliberation on the ongoing peace process, the Hmar outfit is convinced of the absence of confidence, trust and commitment from the Mizoram Government side despite signing the document for the SoO. "The narrow pre-conditions that have been repeatedly put forward by the Government of Mizoram have not only reduced the credibility of the SoO document, but also the parties that are involved in it," the outfit's political affairs ‘secretary’ LB Hmar informed on March 12.LB Hmar said the HPC-D strongly believes that both the engaging parties should pro-actively work to build confidence, trust and goodwill before the Hmar-Government of Mizoram political talk is put on track.

2010 

• July 28: Two cadres of the HPC-D, identified as Thanga Theak of Haflong and J. Lalzarza of Bara Arkap, were arrested by the Army from Bara Arkap village in southern Dima Hasao District. Theak was a local area 'commander' of the outfit. The two cadres were involved in tax collection in the area and also in coordinating movement of militants in the District. The Army also recovered two AK-47 rifles, one rifle, three grenades and more than 300 rounds of ammunition from the area. Pointing out that HPC-D group is in ceasefire in Manipur and its cadres are restricted to a camp in Churachandpur District, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) release said 'the group is also believed to be involved in the recent blasts on July 21 at Haflong, Mahur and Harangajao'.
• July 23: The indefinite cease work strike called by the media persons in Churachandpur District was withdrawn, after the HPC-D tendered an apology to the Manipur Hill Journalists' Union and the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union.
• July 21: Following an intimidation on Sangai Express Churachandpur (Manipur) correspondent by the HPC-D, the Manipur Hill Journalist Union (MHJU) decided to cease publication indefinitely with effect from July 22.
• July 12: Assam Environment and Forest Minister Rokybul Hussain informed the State Legislative Assembly that militants killed 1,549 civilians and 205 Security Forces (SFs) between 2001 and June 2010. In the armed encounters between the SFs and the militants of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) etc, 1,703 militants were killed during this period. 144 innocent persons were killed when SFs opened fire to bring law and order situation under control during the period.
The Minister said that in the incidents of encounter between the SFs and the militants, 26 civilians were killed during the period. During this period, 2,043 ULFA cadres, 899 NDFB cadres and 102 KLNLF cadres surrendered before the Government and 10,242 members of various militant outfits were arrested. He also told the House that so far six ULFA leaders and 53 cadres of the outfit are in jail and between January 1, 2010 and June 30, 2010 two of its leaders and 164 cadres were released on bail. The Government is interested in holding talks with ULFA, he said.
Further, he said the House that six militant outfits are active in the State at present. These organisations include-ULFA, NDFB, All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA), HPC-D, Muslim United Liberation Tiger of Assam (MULTA) and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM). According to him seven new outfits are active - Liberation Democratic Council of Mising Land (LDCM), United Tribal Liberation Front (UTLF), United Tribal Revolutionary Army (UTRA), Dimasa National Liberation Front (DNLF), Gorkha Liberation Army (GLA), Hills Tiger Force (HTF) and Santhal Tiger Force (STF) have come to light, said the Minister.
• June 10: HPC-D and the KNF have increased their activities in North Cachar Hills District bordering Nagaland. Police sources said two militant outfits are believed to be involved in three blasts in the District within the last one month. Sources said that the two outfits have joined hands to form the HTF with the objective of opposing the renaming of the District as Dima Hasao. The HTF has already sent letters to the Government offices opposing the renaming of the District and the possibility of the outfits indulging in more acts of violence in the days to come cannot be ruled out.
• March 29: Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain in the State Legislative Assembly said that among the active militant groups, the ULFA has a strength of 875 cadres, while the anti-talk faction of the NDFB has 225 cadres, AANLA has 30 cadres, Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) has 40 cadres, HPC-D has 50 cadres, MULTA has 110 cadres and Assam unit of the Harkat-ul-Mujaheedin has 45 cadres. The Minister further said that the Unified Command structure is active in the State for launching coordinated operations against militants. The Minister informed the House that in the last two years, 535 persons, including 494 civilians and 41 SFs, were killed by militants, while, during the same period, 333 militants were killed by SFs in counter-insurgency operations. He added that two outfits, Bircha Commando Force (BCF) and Adivasi Cobra Force (ACF), are in suspension of operation with the State Government and two others- BW and KLNLF laid down arms to join the mainstream.
• March 18: Three suspected militants of the HPC-D, identified as Ranhuo Pangamte, Himsang Infimete and Biaka Fani, were arrested from Pdengshnong Madanryting in Shillong city of Meghalaya. One M-20 pistol and two cellular phones were recovered by the Police from their possession. Several indiscriminating documents related to the outfit were recovered from the house of Biaka Fani.

2009 

• October 19: The Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana informed the State Legislative Assembly that a sum of INR 2, 49,400 was raised by the HPC-D through extortion notes from 18 villages on the Mizoram-Manipur border in 2009. Lalzirliana said criminal cases were registered against the insurgents in the Vairengte, Sakawrdai, Ngopa, Bairabi and Saitual Police Stations. He also said that many village council presidents handed over the money collected from the villagers to the HPC-D leadership in Manipur’s Thingpuikual village on September 10. The Police in some areas seized extortion notes and registered cases against the militants, he added.
• January 12: The Assam Government stated in the Legislative Assembly that eight militant groups, including the ULFA, KLNLF, Black Widow, AANLA, KRA, HuM, MULTA and HPC-D, are active in the State. Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said that both the ULFA and NDFB are carrying out subversive activities in Assam under the influence of foreign powers and top leaders of the outfit are staying abroad. He further said that in 2008, 124 militants belonging to various outfits were killed and over 1300 were arrested. The Security Forces also recovered 203 bombs and 202 grenades from the militants.

2008 

• September 20: The leaders of the central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) hold talks with HPC-D and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) at Churachandpur. They ask the outfits not to interfere in the coming elections to the 40-member Mizoram legislature.
• September 2: Four police personnel, including an officer of Mizoram’s first battalion of India Reserve Police, are killed when suspected militants ambush a vehicle at Saipum village in the Kolasib district along the border with Assam. Three other police personnel are injured while civilians who are in the vehicle escape unhurt. Police suspect the involvement of the HPC-D. "The HPC (D) insurgents might be the culprits in view of the coming state assembly polls," an unnamed senior police officer says.
• July 15: The HPC-D alleges that the UNLF and KCP-Military Council frequently rape tribal girls and are trying to separate the smaller communities in the State.
• July 14: The HPC-D claims responsibility for the July 9 killing of a Mizo youth, Lalsangliana, in the Churachandpur district. The HPC-D accused him of being a KCP cadre.
• April 26: The HPC-D militants attacked and cause substantial damage to machineries installed at the construction site of the Tipaimukh Multi-Purpose Hydel Project in Manipur.

2007 

• September 8: A militant of the Hmar National Army outfit, identified as Lalsaun, is shot dead by suspected militants belonging to the rival HPC-D at Saiden in the Churachandpur district of Manipur. His dead body is recovered from the incident site a day later.
• September 7: The 'information secretary' of the HPC-D, Lalrawngbawla Pulamte, surrenders before the Mizoram government. He was reportedly brought by police personnel from Silchar in the Cachar district of Assam to capital Aizawl in Mizoram.
• January 11: The HPC-D asks for involvement of the Union Government in peace talks between the outfit and the Mizoram Government. "If there is any negotiation to discuss the fulfillment of the provisions of the 1994 accord signed between the Mizoram government and the HPC, the Centre must intervene," a note by the outfit said.
• January 5: Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga delegates Charlton Lien Amo, a legislator from Manipur, as the representative to negotiate with the HPC-D. Amo, belonging to the Hmar community, was elected from Tipaimukh Assembly constituency in Manipur twice.
• January 2: The Mizoram Government initiates negotiations with the HPC-D. The Government is to send representatives to the outfit, which operates in Mizoram, Manipur and Assam's Cachar and North Cachar Hills districts, to evaluate its demands.

2006

• March 13: The HPC-D refutes the accusation made by the UNLF of its involvement in the displacement of Hmar people from Manipur.
  
• March 11: The HPC-D accuses the KCP of its involvement along with the UNLF in the assault on Hmar women and extortion of money from the Hmar civilians in Churachandpur district of Manipur.
  
• February 2: Hmar and Paite tribesmen, who were forced out by militants along the Assam-Mizoram border, are reported to have returned to their homes at Thanlon and Parbung in the Churachandpur district. Nearly 1,000 villagers had reportedly fled their homes following a clash between the UNLF and HPC-D in January 2006. 
  
• January 27: The ‘information and publicity secretary’ of HPC-D, R. Pulamte, while rejecting the ‘accusation’ of UNLF that his outfit is responsible for the 'torture' of villagers of Parbung and Tipaimukh subdivisions in the Churachandpur district, says that the Barak river region has been the main source of income and means of livelihood for the people of Tipaimukh, "but since UNLF’s ‘occupation’ of the region, heavy ‘taxes’ on all items/commodities pertaining to the Hmars without the ‘consent’ of the HPC-D had paved way for the deteriorating relationship between the UNLF and the Hmar outfit." 
  
• January 23: UNLF ‘accuses’ the HPC-D, of ‘conniving’ with the SFs and ‘harassing’ the villagers of Parbung and Tipaimukh sub-divisions in Churachandpur district, forcing them to flee to the neighbouring State of Mizoram. 
  
• January 7: Two suspected HPC-D cadres are killed in an encounter with UNLF militants at Damdei under Parbung police station in the Churachandpur district. 
  

2005 

• November 4: HPC-D serves extortion notes on several persons in Mizoram’s Vairangte village demanding a portion of their salaries. The notes, written in Hmar dialect, say that five per cent of the salary for October is to be paid to the outfit by November 15. 
  
• March 2: A HPC-D cadre is killed by security force personnel during a counter insurgency operation in the Churachandpur district of Manipur. 
  

2004 

• July 26: Suspected HPC-D militants attack a security outpost at Sonai block in the Cachar district of Assam. 
• June 12: Six persons including officials, employees and two guards of a cement manufacturing company, are abducted by a group of suspected HPC-D cadres in the North Cachar Hills district. 
• April 7: The HPC-D and the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) sign a ‘truce agreement’ during a meeting held at the residence of L B Sona, chairman of the Zomi Council, at an unspecified location in Manipur. 
• March 31: Two HPC-D cadres are killed during an internecine clash between the HPC-D and ZRA at Rengkai village in the Churachandpur district of Manipur.
• March 28: A HPC-D militant is killed in an internecine clash with ZRA militants at Renki in the Churachandpur district of Manipur.
• January 16: An unidentified terrorist is killed during an encounter between the Army and suspected HPC-D and Naga terrorists at Moulin in the North Cachar Hills district of Assam.

2003 

• November 21: HPC-D in a press release refutes news reports regarding its involvement in the abduction of three candidates for the State Legislative Assembly Elections from Suangpuilawn constituency in Mizoram. 
  
• October 14: Two suspected HPC-D cadres are arrested from the Hmarculin area in Cachar district of Assam. 
  
• September 8: Four HPC-D terrorists are killed and another is injured during an encounter in the Jinam Valley area of North Cachar Hills district of Assam. 
  
• August 6: Remaining two officials of the Government’s Public Welfare Department (PWD), held captive by the anti-talks faction of the UPDS since July 8 are set free.

• August 5: Alleged plot of the HPC-D to set up a training camp in the jungles near Nagadum village in Cachar district unearthed.

• August 2: Suspected HPC-D terrorists blow up a bus that was being used in the Khuga dam project at Senveg village in Manipur’s Churachandpur district by triggering an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

• July 17: Media reports indicate formation of Hmar Hunam Santo (HHS) with links to the HPC-D as counter outfit of the DHD in Assam.
• July 4: A girl is killed and a school and 25 Dimasa (tribe) dwellings are set ablaze by suspected HPC-D terrorists in Berelang village, North Cachar Hills district
  
• July 1: Assam Government appoints Justice P C Phukan of the Guwahati High Court to probe into the inter-tribal clashes between Hmars and the Dimasas in the North Cachar Hills and Cachar districts. 
  
• June 29: Four HPC-D terrorists are arrested from the Marshakhal Punji area in Cachar district of Assam. 
  
• June 20: Six HPC-D terrorists are killed in an encounter with the security forces at Phyleh village in Cachar district.
  
• June 18: Suspected HPC-D terrorists fire a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) on a clubhouse at Kumocheera under Lakhipur police station limits in Cachar district where some members of the Dimasa community had gathered for a meeting. 
  
• June 17: Dimasa Students’ Community at Guwahati demands that the Government should flush out HPC-D terrorists from the State who are alleged to be operating from the neighbouring States of Manipur and Mizoram.
  
• June 16: An estimated 70 HPC-D cadres set ablaze 50 houses in Dipucherra Dimasa village in Cachar district. In an ensuing encounter with the police, one militant is killed. 
  
• June 12: Police recover 10 pipe-guns and two kilograms of gunpowder from a house in Maiserpunji, a Hmar village in Cachar district, following an attack on Dihankru, a Dimasa village in North Cachar Hills district, by suspected HPC-D terrorists who set ablaze approximately 40 houses.
  Visiting Ministerial team led by State Health Minister Bhumidhar Barman recommends an immediate operation to flush out the HPC-D terrorists from the North Cachar Hills district district.
  HPC-D terrorists set ablaze approximately 15 Dimasa dwellings in the Daudung and Duiyungkhro villages in North Cachar hills district. 
  
• June 10: Five persons are killed and three others injured in a clash between suspected HPC-D militants and security forces near Mahur in the North Cachar Hills district. 
  
• June 9: Ten HPC-D militants are arrested from Bitheipunji in the Cachar district for their involvement in the killing of Dimasa tribals.
  
• June 8: Two women are killed and a dozen others injured in an attack by HPC-D militants in Kalinagar village of Cachar district.
  
• June 6: HPC-D terrorists attack Lodi Basti, a Dimasa populated village, which straddles Cachar and North Cachar Hills districts and kill three tribals, including two women. The terrorists also set ablaze approximately 50 dwellings. 
  Three Dimasa youths are killed by suspected Hmar militants in the North Cachar Hills district. 
  

• May 31: Suspected HPC-D terrorists attack a village of the Dimasa tribes, Longreng under Haflong police station limits in Assam’s North Cachar Hills district, and kill two of them. Ten tribal dwellings are also set ablaze. 
  

• May 7: Two Dima Halim Daogah (DHD) terrorists are killed in an encounter with HPC-D cadres at Retzol in the Haflong town of North Cachar Hills district.
  
• April 11: Six HPC-D militants are arrested from the Sonai police station area in Cachar district. 
  
• April 7: An army personnel is killed in an encounter with suspected HPC-D militants at Didkokcherra in the North Cachar Hills district. 
  
• March 31: 26 Dimasa villagers are killed by suspected HPC-D militants in Chekerchand village of Cachar district. 
  
• February 24: Three DHD cadres are abducted by HPC-D militants in the Cachar district. 
  

1999

• August 21: HPC-D militants abduct four milk vendors near Bishnupur village in Cachar district. They are reportedly released after payment of a ransom of Rupees one Lakh. 
• March-April: Seven people are killed during an ambush by HPC-D militants in an Hmar-dominated area in Mizoram.

1998

• November: Three HPC-D militants are arrested along with some arms in the North Cachar hills district.