Hmar People's Convention surrenders arms

The Hmar People's Convention (Democratic) today surrendered arms to state government authorities during the third round of peace talks here.
The six-member HPC (D) delegation led by the outfit's working chairman L T Hmar and its leaders from Manipur and Mizoram held talks with the government delegation headed by Additional Secretary for Home Lalbiakzama.
The HPC(D) surrendered three AK-47 rifles, one INSAS rifle, four 9mm pistols, 17 magazines and 74 rounds of ammunition.
Among the surrendered items was a rifle of a police constable, who had deserted the state armed police with the weapon, and later joined the militant outfit.

Arms taken after an ambush on a team of legislators, in which three policemen were killed, at Zokhawthiang village near the Manipur border on March 28, 2015, were also surrendered by the outfit.
Lalbiakzama told PTI that the talks were held cordially and on mutual trust.

"We agreed to resume talks by mid-February next year," he said, adding a conditional ceasefire agreement was signed so that the people of Mizoram can celebrate Christmas and New Year peacefully.
The first round of peace talks was held on August 10 and the second on October 5 and 6.
The talks revolved around giving more autonomy and power to the Sinlung Hill Development Council (SHDC), formed after an agreement was signed in 1994 between the erstwhile underground HPC and the Mizoram government.

The HPC (D) was formed immediately after the surrender of the HPC. The former continued to demand creation of a separate autonomous district council in the area adjoining Manipur. The outfit now no longer demands a separate autonomous district council.