SHILLONG: The banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has asked people from the Nepali community to quit from the entire districts of Khasi and Jaintia Hills, and especially from Langpih, with immediate effect, on the ground that “the illegal Nepali foreign settlers in Langpih” were causing “huge damage” to the indigenous people.
Accusing militant groups from Karbi Anglong in Assam of threatening indigenous people of Meghalaya in Block-I and Block-II areas, the HNLC also said in a press release e-mailed to newspapers on Wednesday that “the HNLC would not tolerate any interference by the outside groups into its territory.”
The release, issued in the name of HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw, said that “the illegal Nepali foreign settlers in Langpih had time and again caused huge damage to our people in Langpih. These illegal foreigners are snatching away the livelihood of our people and our lands. There had also been cases of assault on “our people” by them. Villagers in Langpih had also lost their lives defending themselves from the foreigners.”
These “illegal foreigners” enjoyed the support of the Assam government as they were being used as vote banks, the release said. It called upon NGOs and pressure groups to take up the issue.
The HNLC applauded the Synjuk ki Rangbah Shnong Raid Nongtung “for being brave and setting an example.” It stood by the stand of KSU North Khasi Hills to support its people.
HNLC had received complaints from people of Madan Umwang, Umthlieh and Umsalang under Block-I and Block-II that the indigenous people were being threatened with dire consequences by militant groups from Karbi Anglong and had even received demand notes from these groups.
“The Karbi militant groups should harass the government of Assam instead of harassing the villagers,” the release said. “They have political problems with Assam and should not harass our Hynniewtrep villagers.”
The HNLC statement criticized the Meghalaya police department of being “blind” and for “turning a deaf ear to the problems of our people.” The State police were arresting HNLC cadres and pro-ILP leaders but becoming “paralyzed” when came to “arresting tainted politicians and other militant groups torturing our people.”
Accusing the Meghalaya government of never trying to solve the border problems, it said the people would have to come together “under a common platform to fight the injustices of the government and its policies.”
