Shillong, July 16: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma said the intelligence network in the region will be strengthened to ensure that incidents such as the IED blast at the Police reserve camp at Khliehriat in East Jaintia Hills District does not occur again.

Addressing the media persons on Friday, Sangma said the intelligence is there but one cannot watch every individual’s movement or every individual who tries to create these kinds of problems.

“Intelligence network in the region will be strengthened to ensure it doesn’t take place in the future. We are trying to neutralise anybody who tries to disturb the law and order situation in the state,” he said.

He said that Meghalaya police have been on alert and many such incidents have been neutralized.

The CM informed that the Superintendent of Police (SP) and the entire team is working efficiently on this and they have all the intelligence that is required.

He also stated that the two arrested persons after the IED blast are over-ground workers of the banned outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), and further investigation is on.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui denied any intelligence failure. He said the intel wing of the government is very strong which is why the suspects were identified and nabbed within 24 hrs of the blast.

Lauding the police for acting swiftly, Rymbui said that as soon as the incident happened the police acted swiftly and the bomb squad rushed to the spot to confirm the nature of the bomb.

“The crime scene unit also was rushed there for the necessary action. On the same day, the police, after registering the case, caught hold of one of the suspects; during the course of investigation, the police arrested another suspect. The investigation is going on and I hope the police will be able to solve it at the earliest,” said Rymbui.

He added that they are handling this matter judiciously and don’t want to deliberate much.

“There are several developments taking place as we speak,” said Rymbui.

Return of militancy and talks with HNLC

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister rubbished claims that militancy is slowly making a comeback in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills. He said all necessary actions and interventions are being taken by the Meghalaya police to ensure that law and order in maintained in the State, while ensuring peace prevails.

On talks with HNLC, he said the Government of Meghalaya is discussing the matter with the Centre. However, HNLC has to eschew violence, and talks can only happen within the ambit of the Constitution.

IED blasts in the East Jaintia Hills

This is not been the first instance of an IED explosion reported from the same district.

On July 14, 2021 an IED explosion occurred at one of the police reserves at Khliehriat in East Jaintia Hills District, around 1:30 am. One person was in the quarter which was attacked. Fortunately, there was no loss of life or injuries, but the explosion led to loss of property.

On December 13, 2020, two persons were injured after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded at Star Cement in East Jaintia Hills District. The banned outfit HNLC claimed responsibility and said that the blast is because the owner of the factory refused to pay tax.

On November 27, 2020, a low-intensity IED blast occurred at Soo Kilo under Sutnga Elaka in East Jaintia Hills (EJH) district around 3:00 am. The HNLC also claimed responsibility for this blast. General Secretary of HNLC, Saiñkupar Nongtraw said that they planted the IED at Soo Kilo as the area serves as a hotbed for outsiders to carry out illegal business activities.

“This area is famous for prostitution, gambling, and many other anti-social activities. The market functions as a coal depot and everything takes place by the cooperation of the police as they get their timely shares from the proceedings,” Nongtraw had mentioned.

However, as mentioned by the chief minister that there are times that the police are able to avoid such untoward incidents.

One such instance was on January 18, 2020, where the police were able to make a timely recovery of an IED weighing approximately 7 kg which saved several lives and property at Bther village in East Jaintia Hills. Preliminary investigation showed that gelatin, which is commonly used for limestone mining in the region, was used as an explosive in the IED. The splinters were also seized as per procedure and were sent to forensic science laboratory for expert opinion.