By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The family members of HNLC cadre Banpyrkhat Langstieh alias Pyntngen criticized the East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, M Kharkrang for changing the assurance given to them that nothing will happen to the cadre once he surrendered.
The cadre was arrested on Wednesday after he surrendered a day before.
The relatives observed that they were ‘cheated and betrayed’ by the same people who should be protecting him.
“The double standard of the police is not what we expected at all and we will not tolerate this biasness on the part of the police. Arresting my brother for the previous crimes he committed while letting the other surrendered cadres roam scot free in the streets will not be accepted by us at any cost”, Pyntngen’s sister Ibanri Langstieh told reporters here on Saturday.
Pyntngen had surrendered before East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang on Tuesday last and on Wednesday, he was remanded in three days’ police custody for his involvement in the attack on Lumdiengjri police station. The former cadre is also suspected to be involved in putting up an HNLC flag at Student’s Field on HNLC Raising day in August, 2012.
Expressing their lack of trust and confident on the police force, Langstieh said “This action will send a dangerous message to the other youth who had gone astray, giving them second thoughts before considering to surrender before the police.”
The worried sister also stated that she had earlier apprised the local MLA Donkupar Roy of her brother’s intention to surrender, who later informed the same to the East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police.
“It was after the SP called us up and assured that nothing will happen to him (Pyntngen), that we brought him before the police and we were shocked to learn that he has been remanded to three days police custody the next day”, Langstieh said.
According to Langstieh, she also met the Home Minister the day Pyntngen surrendered before the police. “The Home Minister had directed the police not to torture Pyntngen and to conduct the enquiry within 24 hours”, she claimed even as she said that it has been five days, yet bail is not yet granted as Pyntngen is still undergoing medical treatment at Shillong Civil Hospital.
Stating that they will continue to fight for justice, Langstieh said that she will not let her brother be considered as the only cadre who is responsible for all the crimes committed by the HNLC while reiterating her stand to move for bail.
Meanwhile, CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said that this is the first time that a surrendered cadre is remanded in police custody for the previous crimes he committed.
“It seems there is no coordination between the government and the police force when it comes to dealing with surrendered militants” she said while referring to the statement made by Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma when he assumed office for the second term, where he welcomed all the youths who had gone astray back to the mainstream. “And there are the police on the other hand, who are trying to downplay the whole situation and implicate an arrest on a surrendered cadre”, she added.
Threatening to move the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Kharshiing said “They cannot play politics with the lives of people like this and if any loopholes are found within the police force with regard to this case, we will not hesitate to report the matter to the NHRC.”, she added.