SHILLONG:
Retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Peter S Dkhar is set to mediate peace talks with the banned Khasi rebel outfit – Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
Informing the same, home minister Lahkmen Rymbui, on March 10, said, “Yesterday, the Centre gave the green signal for the state government to initiate the peace process. We have accordingly appointed Peter S Dkhar, retired IAS officer, as the government interlocutor for taking the matter forward.”
Dkhar, who was a former deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills, will be assisted by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Adviser, North East and retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer AK Mishra, he informed.
“Having got the Centre’s nod, I hope this talk process will start between the HNLC and PS Dkhar. We will know anything beyond that after their first interaction (which will be held very soon),” Rymbui added.
Earlier on February 10, the proscribed outfit had sent the official communication expressing its readiness for unconditional peace talks. This was following the appeal made by chief minister Conrad K Sangma while responding to the outfit’s peace offer on February 8.