Peter S Dkhar appointed as interlocutor for facilitating peace talks with HNLC

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 10, 2022

Retired IAS officer Peter S Dkhar has been appointed as interlocutor for facilitating the peace talks with the banned HNLC.

This was informed by the home minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Thursday.

Retired IPS AK Mishra will be coordinating between the centre and the state governments for taking forward the process.

“Yesterday, the Government of India has given the green signal for the state government to initiate the peace process. We have accordingly appointed Peter S Dkhar, retired IAS officer, as government interlocutor for taking the matter forward,” Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui told reporters.

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 green signal, 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.

The HNLC had sent the official communication expressing its readiness for unconditional peace talks on February 10. This was following the appeal made by the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma while responding to the outfit’s peace offer on February 8.