Shillong, March 15: Meghalaya Government on Tuesday discussed the HNLC peace-talks process in the cabinet, after the proscribed group had recently sent a letter seeking constitution of the Hynniewtrep Peace Committee (HPC) and to suspend all police operations against them for the peace process to go through smoothly.

Replying to the query if the Government will suspend operations against the HNLC, talking to reporters after a cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the discussion has just started and the interlocutor will have to start doing the exercise after which the entire picture will be clear.

On whether official letter has been handed over to HNLC on the appointment of the interlocutors, Sangma said that the government has communicated to HNLC through channels and they have verbally agreed to the person appointed as the interlocutor.

He also mentioned that these talks take time and the due process is being followed.

The state government has appointed retired IAS officer Peter S. Dkhar as the interlocutor for peace talks with the HNLC while retired IPS officer AK Mishra has been appointed as advisor by MHA to help co-ordinate between the Centre and state government for the peace talk process.

Recently, HNLC had welcomed the appointment of interlocutors and had sought official communication from the government for the same.