The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) is a product of a 1992 split in the Hynniewtrep Achik Liberation Council (HALC), the first militant tribal outfit in Meghalaya. HALC split due to inter-tribe schisms leading to the formation of HNLC and Achik Matgrik Liberation Army (AMLA). In the erstwhile HALC, the Hynniewtreps (Khasis, who trace their origin to seven celestial families) represented the Khasi and Jaintia tribes and the Achiks represented the Garos in the common fight against the Dkhars or 'outsiders'. HNLC was proscribed on November 16, 2000.

An important objective of HNLC is to transform Meghalaya as a province exclusively for the Khasi tribe and free it from 'domination' by the Garo tribe. Another objective is to fight against the presence of 'outsiders', as HNLC feels that Khasi youth are deprived of the fruits of development in the state.

Julius K Dorphang is the chairman of HNLC. Cheristerfield Thangkhiew functions as its general secretary. Among the other leaders are publicity secretary M Diengdoh, commander-in-chief Bobby Marwein. HNLC primarily operates in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, and is closely linked with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim – Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM). It also has a front organisation called the HSDF (Hynniewtrep State Democratic Front), whose commander-in-chief Dominic Kharpuli and three other cadres were arrested on October 20, 2001. The outfit is also reportedly maintaining some of its camps in Bangladesh.