SHILLONG: Denying that Omet Phanbuh @Cris had gone to surrender before the police, the proscribed HNLC on Thursday claimed that the statements of the police department about the escape and surrender of Phanbuh was a planned conspiracy to create misunderstandings among the cadres of the HNLC and to sow the seeds of disunity.
“We would like to clarify that he (Phanbuh) was officially released from his duty 6 months ago due to health problems. The HNLC leadership had taken the decision based on humanitarian grounds and requests from his family members,” HNLC public secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in statement issued here.
He accused the police department of trying their level best to indulge in activities that had infused hatred among the cadres.
According to him, the leadership of the HNLC has taken the matter of peace talks seriously, while the police department on the other hand was making matters worse by inciting feelings of hatred and disunity amongst its cadres.
“The police department should immediately stop their diplomatic conspiracies against the HNLC. In the ongoing peace initiatives, the police department should stop their divide and rule tactics. If the peace process is derailed then the police department shall solely be responsible for any negative outcome,” Nongtraw said.
“It has also come to the notice of the HNLC that several high ranking police officers had used the surrendered cadres to extort money in the name of the HNLC,” he said while adding that this was also orchestrated in order to derail the ongoing peace process that was in its infancy stage.