Mizo home minister appeals HPC-D ultras to shun violence

Aizawl (PTI):  Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana today renewed his appeal to the Manipur-based Hmar People's Convention - Democrats (HPC-D) militants to shun the path of violence and come overground. Lalzirliana said he extended general amnesty to those who were willing to return to normal life. Talking to reporters, he, however, warned that the police would continue crackdown on the militants who were continuing violent activities. Earlier too, the home minister had appealed to HPC-D ultras to come overground. "If they come overground, we would offer general amnesty and rehabilitate them by giving financial assistance through the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) and other governmental programmes," he said. He said the Congress, after coming to power in 2008 never regarded HPC-D cadres as insurgents, but their activities like intimidation and extortion prompted the government to order a crackdown. The recent arrests of HPC-D top brass like its chairman H Zosangbera, 'Army chief' Lalropuia and 'Deputy Army Chief' Biaknunga were fallout of the outfit's cadres in illegal and violent activities, he said.

~PTI