SHILLONG: In a startling revelation regarding state security, Director General of Police (DGP) Idashisha Nongrang has shed light on the modern recruitment tactics of the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC). The top cop revealed that the outfit is heavily utilizing social media platforms to scout and “recruit” young people, often demanding their EPIC (Voter ID) cards as a primary step for induction.
Based on the ongoing cooperation and analysis of a high-profile arrested member, the Meghalaya Police have identified a “very significant number” of young individuals who have interacted with the outfit’s digital handles.
According to DGP Nongrang, the recruitment process often starts with simple interactions on social media. The outfit then asks interested youth to send photos of their EPIC cards to formalize their interest.
While the number of those who have engaged is high, the DGP offered a glimmer of hope, noting that the majority of these young people have not yet crossed the line into active militancy.
“A significant number of these young people have only gone as far as the first interactions and sending their EPIC cards,” the DGP stated. “They have not really gone beyond that.”
However, the situation is not without its casualties. The DGP pointed to the recent arrests of Banjop and Donbok in Umsning as a grim example of what happens when digital recruitment turns into physical violence. Unlike those who merely chatted online, these two were allegedly involved in the Umshing IED case.
The police also revealed a worrying trend in “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) insurgency. Analysis of recovered mobile phones has uncovered numerous video clippings and tutorials on how to fabricate IEDs using easily available materials.
When asked what the HNLC is using to lure the youth, the DGP highlighted two main hooks — the financial bait that promises of a “good pay package.”
Then there is an emotional bait that appeals to the “Ri and Jaitbynriew” (Land and Nation).
The recruitment isn’t limited to one demographic; it is “broad-based,” targeting youth from urban, rural, and semi-urban areas alike.
In a direct message to the youth of Meghalaya, DGP Nongrang urged them to look at the facts before falling for online propaganda. She pointed to the increasing number of surrenders, including four last year, as proof that life within the organization is far from what is advertised.
“I would like to tell them to check on what they actually are promising,” she cautioned. “Why are people who joined and went across now surrendering? It’s because what is promised and what is the reality very often doesn’t meet.”
The DGP also confirmed that the police are investigating potential links between these recruitments and a recent blast in a coal mine though she declined to provide specific details while the probe is active. Regarding the number of cadres currently in Bangladesh, the DGP noted that reports remain “conflicting” and the situation is being closely monitored.
