Shillong, Nov 30: The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on Wednesday termed the summon notices issued by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as ‘uncalled for’ since the peace process has already started between the government and the outfit.

This came after the Special Judge (NIA) has issued summon notices to the leaders of the HNLC.

“This is a clear cut indication that the authorities concerned have bypassed the entire procedure of the ongoing peace talks,” HNCL general secretary cum publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement.

He said before the initiation of the ongoing tripartite peace talks, the HNLC had made it clear that all its cases should be withdrawn so as to ensure a secure environment in order to pursue the peace talks.

He also claimed that the government had assured that once the process begins, old cases would not be a case of concern and that it shall not in any way hamper the peace talks.

“In fact the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma along with Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui had asserted that the NIA charge sheet shall not hamper the peace talks,” he said while questioning “The summon is an issue of concern as to when peace talks are ongoing then how could new cases be framed against the leaders.”

Stating that this also clearly shows the double standards and attitude of the government, which again creates doubt and mistrust into the entire exercise, Nongtraw said that the HNLC had abjured violence from the initiation of the peace talks and till date they have not created any kind of atmosphere which would hamper the peace talks.

“We have had several rounds of meetings with officials of the MHA and the state government. So far we had been assured of total peace, coordination and cooperation by the government but today’s summon in the local dailies was uncalled for,” he asserted.