Shillong, Oct 4: Khasi-Jaintia Hills based militant outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has claimed responsibility for planting an improvised explosive device (IED) at the ruling National People’s Party (NPP)’s office at Lachumiere on Monday afternoon.
The outfit has also threatened to shoot ministers as it alleged that the recent death of its former general secretary Cherishterfield Thangkhiew was a complete “political conspiracy” by some ministers.
It also asked party workers in Khasi-Jaintia Hills to immediately resign from the NPP within a month’s time.
In a statement issued soon after the recovery of the IED bomb, HNLC general secretary cum publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said, “This is for the information of the general public, media, police department and the GOM that the HNLC claims responsibility for planted IED at Lachumiere NPP’s office without executing it.”
“We have received information from reliable sources regarding the death of (L) Bah Che (Cherishterfield Thangkhiew), that it was a complete political conspiracy by some ministers of the state of Meghalaya and where these ministers will hide themselves before the upcoming elections, we will hunt them, chase them and intimidate them, hence we will shoot and kill them without any mercy,” he said.
Nongtraw said the outfit has taken an extreme step after the government through the police arrested some innocent people without any proper evidence or proof. He said the government was simply trying to showcase it’s strength by allegedly accusing Thangkhiew that he was involved in extortion and IED bomb blast.
“The allegations against Bah Che were just the miscalculation and disinformation,” he stated.
The HNLC further warned party workers of NPP and wants them to immediately resign from the party and should refrain from joining the party within a month while adding “failing to do so, the Council will take strong measures against the higher- ups office bearers of the NPP in Khasi as well as in Jaintia Hills. Those who go against this warning will need not ask any questions or seek any answers from the HNLC.”
