Says will revive Operation Kyllang
SHILLONG: At a time when police have seen little success in curbing crime against women in the State and punishing sexual predators, militant group Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has said it would revive its Operation Kyllang to punish rapists.
The banned outfit’s publicity secretary, Sainkupar Nongtraw, said revival of Operation Kyllang, which was practised by the group in the late nineties and early 2000s, would not be possible without the co-operation of people.
Nongtraw said HNLC would not spare rapists who “attack children” and the punishment would be capital in nature.
Under Operation Kyllang, HNLC used to punish men accused of sexual crimes by piercing their ears and putting locks into the holes as an identifying mark.
The outfit said law and order ensuring safety of women in the State is deteriorating by the day and culprits get away by committing crimes.
There has been a constant clamour for special courts and high rate of conviction to deter sexual predators from attacking women and children. The government has assured that it is in the process to restart fast track courts in all districts.
Criticising Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, the outfit said despite his talks about ensuring women’s safety, he has failed to check on his Home minister whose guest house was used for flesh trade.
HNLC also alleged that Meghalaya Houses in Delhi and Kolkata have become “recreational ladies’ clubs” for several MLAs.
Asserting that the Home minister should have resigned on moral grounds for a fair probe, the group added that the Congress brigade has time and again defended several tainted MLAs, including Ampareen Lyngdoh and Deborah Marak.
Drug menace
On the growing trend of drug abuse in Shillong, HNLC said the chief minister has promised to go after the kingpins, but in so many years no kingpin was arrested.
“The police department is very active in arresting militants and monitoring them. But when it comes to monitoring drug mafias and rapists they are blindfolded,” Nongtraw said.
The outfit added that every year hundreds of youths aged between 25 and 45 die due to alcohol and the chief minister should visit hospitals and get data on such deaths.
Accident relief
HNLC castigated the State government for announcing a paltry compensation of Rs 50,000 to the kin of each deceased person in the road accident in West Khasi Hills.
“What a shame on the MUA-II Government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s relief fund sanctioned Rs 2 lakh per family and State government sanctioned only Rs 50,000. This same government doesn’t hesitate to spend crores of rupees on useless festivals, thereby filling the pockets of private businessmen,” Nongtraw said.
Entry-exit points
The Council welcomed the newly elected central body of the KSU and said the new body should work for the uplift of the Hynniewtrep people.
Making it clear that HNLC is neither against development nor against railways, it said the government should start setting up entry and exit points to check influx.
“Once the entry-exit points are set up, we can think about railways. In terms of development, we would like to compete on a par with other developing states. Railways is a necessity for our people because transportation costs of essential commodities will come down,” HNLC added.