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Meghalaya secessionist leader enters India, surrenders

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Shillong, Oct 18 (IANS) Meghalayas most wanted separatist leader and Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) General Secretary Cheristerfield Thangkhiew surrendered before Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday at the Police Headquarters.

Thangkhiew arrived in Shillong on Thursday from Bangladesh following several rounds of discussions between his family members and the Deputy Chief Minister for his surrender.

“He arrived in Shillong today (Thursday) from Bangladesh via Dawki (near the India-Bangladesh border) and travelled by road to Shillong to surrender before the government,” a Meghalaya Police official told IANS.

The surrender of the General Secretary is believed to be a major blow to the Khasi secessionist outfit which now is left with its military wing commander Bobby Reagan Marweiñ, who is hiding in Bangladesh with a few of his trusted lieutenants.

Deputy Chief Minister Tynsong said that “frequent discussions” were held between him and Thangkhiew’s family members and his brother Gray to facilitate the separatist leader (Thangkhiew) to come overground.

Thangkhiew, one of the founding members of the HNLC, was hiding in Bangladesh after he along with Bobby Reagan Marweiñ, Dilash Marak and Jerome Cherian Momin of the A’chik Liberation Matgrik Army (ALMA) and two cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak Muivah faction escaped from Shillong Jail in 1995.

HNLC Chairman Julius Dorphang was the first top leader of the outfit to surrender before Chief Minister D.D. Lapang on July 24, 2008. Dorphang later successfully contested the 2013 Meghalaya Assembly election but was later arrested on January 7, 2017 for raping a minor girl. He is currently lodged in Shillong prison.

“I am sure his (Thangkhiew) decision to comeback will send a message to other cadres who are in Bangladesh to follow his footsteps. I am sure you (Thangkhiew) will be instrumental in taking part in the programme of the government,” Tynsong told the separatist leader.

Asked whether Thangkhiew will face trials for various crimes he had committed, Tynsong said: “…The government has handled such cases a number of times in the past. You have seen how the government handled the issue of people coming overground. Therefore, just leave to the wisdom on how to handle this issue to the government.”

Thangkhiew, who said that he has no regrets for joining the HNLC that had killed several civilians and security forces, offered himself to play the role of a negotiator with the HNLC.

“If the government needs me, I am ready to be a negotiator but it all depends on the government. I have discussed with members of the outfit about my decision (surrender). This is my personal decision. There is no personal enmity or differences and I still have a good relationship with all the members of the HNLC,” he told journalists.

Hitting out at the previous Congress government in Meghalaya for not taking seriously to the HNLC’s offer for peace talks, Thangkhiew said: “From the inception of the Indian union, there has been problems created by the Indian National Congress and they did not take it seriously. I also had a telephonic conversation with the previous Meghalaya Home Minister Roshan Warjri for dialogue but the then Congress government in Meghalaya did not take it seriously.”

The HNLC, which runs hit-and-run operations from its hideout in Bangladesh, has been demanding a sovereign Khasi homeland in Meghalaya.

Meghalaya shares a 443-km border with Bangladesh, part of which is porous, hilly and unfenced and prone to frequent infiltration.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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