Police trying to provoke us, outfit’s leader claims
SHILLONG: Claiming that it had dedicated subscribers who have been contributing towards the cause of the outfit, HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw on Sunday slammed the State Police’s statement that the outfit was in acute financial crunch, saying that it has been the same old story since long ago.
“We have people who are contributing towards the fund of the Council, both from the tribal as well as the non-tribal community including politicians,” Nongtraw said in his statement.
He also asserted that the ban on coal mining will not affect the HNLC as it had other reliable sources of income.
“Our cadres are well trained to fight as well as to sustain themselves in times of emergency. Our cadres are also gifted with the dignity of labour. It is not like in Garo Hills where even petty traders like vegetable vendors and drivers are not spared,” he said.
Nongtraw also clarified that the recent planned abduction attributed to the HNLC was not carried out by its overground cadres, and further claimed that the three youths who were recently arrested by the police were in no way associated with the HNLC.
While questioning the police for not naming the victim, he said that this proves beyond doubt that this is a conspiracy by the police to defame the HNLC.
According to him, the motive of the police in not naming the victim and his father has pointed the needle of suspicion towards the police department itself, as the same kind of incident had happened in Garo Hills where the branch manager of a nationalized bank had been kidnapped.
“It was also shocking that the police blamed Hep Metal for the abduction,” Nongtraw said. While admitting that the HNLC had been involved in kidnappings during the 1990’s and were very much successful in their attempts, Nongtraw said, “Even now if the Council desires it could kidnap many high-profile people and political big wigs but we stand by our own principles.”
“The police department has been trying to provoke the outfit to execute killings and kidnappings. If the HNLC starts then it will neither spare any businessman nor any politician,” he said.
“The HNLC does not rely on the KSU, FKJGP, HNYF or any other individual or group to carry on its cause, especially when it comes to the execution of its programmes and operations. The police department is aware that HNLC is against the NGT ban and this is just a step to confuse the public about the motives of the outfit,” the HNLC leader said.
He said that the Council will intensify its stand on the NGT ban “as the livelihood of our people is more important to us than anything else.”
“Our Hynniewtrep belongs to our people and no government or Tribunal can take away the rights of our people. Hitting the economy and livelihood of the Hynniewtrep is tantamount to strangulating our people to death. We will never tolerate this man made pre-famine plans. Our people have started realizing their rights and this time it is not only the HNLC but it is the unanimous decision of our people,” Nongtraw stated.
Nongtraw recalled that the HNLC, on August 14 last year, had expressed its willingness to come forward for unconditional peace talks with the government, but expressed dismay that till date the government had not initiated any kind of communication.
“This is a clear cut indication that the Government of Meghalaya is anticipating more bloodshed and instigating the HNLC to further intensify its armed struggle,” the HNLC leader said.