Shillong, Aug 13: Family members of former Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) general secretary late Cherishterfield Thangkhiew on Tuesday paid floral tribute to him on his 3rd death anniversary.

The memorial service held at Cemetery, Lawmali was attended by leaders of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF), Ka Sur Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep, Mawlai Pyllun Youth Association and others.

The KSU, FKJGP and HNYF also put up black flags across the city as a mark of protest against the killing of Thangkhiew by police at his residence at Mawlai Kynton Massar on August 13, 2021.

Banners which read “Be careful, when you’re sleeping, you might be shot by the government”, “the guilty should be punished”, “government’s bullet is only for those who demand the rights of the Khasis” – were also put up in different parts of the city during the protest.

Former vice chairman of the HNLC, Manbhalang Jyrwa, also attended the memorial service.

Speaking during the ceremony, HNYF president Sadon Blah said that till this day, people of Meghalaya continue to condemn the state government troops who came to take the life of Thangkhiew.

Blah alleged that the killing of Thangkhiew by the gunmen of the state government proves that the government is using the powers of the armed forces against its own people. “This day reminds us that even the government authorities have plans to commit terrorist acts,” alleged Sadon.

“This day reminds us that the accusation of terrorism does not agree with the government’s violence. We will continue to express our condolences and we will continue to remind the state government that what they are doing is unacceptable because they went in the middle of the night to shoot a person who is not healthy. This what makes the people of the state angry,” he added.

Meanwhile brother of (late) Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, Granary Starfield Thangkhiew said that the sound of the gunfire of the government insurgents who killed Thangkhiew is still echoing till today.

Thangkhiew alleged that prior 13 August 2021, two Khasi policemen had threatened to kill his brother.

He alleged that he has already identified the two Khasi policemen who threatened to kill (Late) Thangkhiew and asked them to come and talk to the family in order to get closure.

“If my brother had died in battle, I wouldn’t have felt anything, because in battle it would have been quick, but we are saddened by the move of the government to come and kill a man sleeping inside his own house,” said Thangkhiew.

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