Shillong, July 14: The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has claimed responsibility for the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast at a police reserve at Khliehriat in East Jaintia Hills district that occurred at the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

The outfit said the blast was trigged to convey two messages – first, to take revenge against the police department for killing its cadres; and second, a message to Ministry of

Home Affairs, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in particular, to accede to the demands of the ‘Hynniewtrep people’.

The bomb blast took place at around 1.45 am on Wednesday morning, which destroyed a boundary wall of the police reserve building.

“The outfit is claiming responsibility for the blast of an IED bomb at the police reserve in Khliehriat,” HNLC general secretary cum publicity secretary, Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

IED Blast: First Reason

Nongtraw said the reason for the blast is to take revenge on the police that has been targeting its cadres.

“The reason behind the attack was to take revenge against the police department which is involved in killing our cadres. It may be recalled that Tiewiong was arrested and burnt alive by the police. Hepkhoit and other cadres were also tortured in the same manner before they were killed,” Nongtraw alleged.

Mentioning that the incident only shows that the outfit’s cadres are capable of executing what is planned, he also mocked the police force by stating “Who would have expected that cadres of the HNLC are capable of executing the work at the police reserve which is housing the SWAT team despite heavy security?”

He further announced that the state police may have easily won the battle against insurgent groups in Garo Hills but “the battle against us will not be as what they want to imagine.”

At the same time, the HNLC has also warned Star Cement from going ahead with its limestone mining at Brishyrnot. “If the Star Cement does not stop its limestone mining at Brishyrnot, the HNLC will have no option but to again launch an attack against the factory,” Nongtraw said.

IED Blast: Second Reason

The Nongtraw said another reason for the incident is to send a message to the Ministry of Home Affairs which has put various demands of the Khasi people in cold storage. He said, “If Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, still remains adamant to resolve the long pending issues of the Jaidbynriew as per the wishes of the Hynniewtrep people, the HNLC will continue with its activities.”