Outfit made bid to target High Court, Secretariat
SHILLONG: The banned HNLC on Sunday asserted that it will resort to violence after the State government failed to respond to its willingness to hold talks even as it revealed that the plan of the arrested cadres along with the ULFA militant was to blow up the High Court of Meghalaya and the State Secretariat.
In a statement to the press, HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw informed that they have coordinated with other groups of the North East. The recent arrest of its cadres along with an ULFA cadre is a huge loss but they will be replaced by others, the outfit said, adding that they will vehemently take to military tactics.
He stated that the two institutions were a target as both was trying to ‘segregate’ the Hynniewtrep community by taking away the rights of the people.
Threatening to intensify their violence, Nongtraw stated, “The police are overconfident of ‘Operation Hillstorm’. But they should not forget that the HNLC can create operation IED storm in the heart of the city and its political institutions.”
“Henceforth if any casualty is taking place in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, the State government shall be solely responsible. We have decided to take up the path of violence again,” the statement said.
The HNLC boasted of having their own bomb experts who are capable of blowing up strategic locations and causing maximum damage.
The banned group issued a warning to the public to not participate in Independence Day or Republic Day celebrations this time.
“We shall plant IEDs in unexpected locations and the public would be solely responsible for their own casualties,” Nongtraw warned.
“The arrest of our cadres shall not demoralize us but it shall trigger up more hardcore cadres to take up our cause,” the statement added.
Taking a dig at Chief Minister Mukul Sangma who is campaigning for his wife, Dikkanchi Shira, Nongtraw said, “The CM is busy canvassing for his wife in Garo Hills. He has given in all his efforts to make his wife the ‘queen of Garo Hills’, but during Vincent Pala’s MP election campaign the CM did not bother to canvass for him even though they belong to the same party.”
The outfit recounted that they had issued press releases regarding the appointment of interlocutor but was sidelined by the State government and Police department since the government was stressing on dialogues with Garo militants.
“The CM has inked peace pact with Garo militants but when it comes to our group he sidelines us. We had faith in him as a capable leader of the state but his working attitude has made matter worse,” Nongtraw stated.
In view of the above the HNLC said that the banned group should not be blamed for any consequences as the chief minister has compelled them to take up violence.