NONGSTOIN: Following an attempt on the life of factory owner Dharambir Bansal in Shallang on June 3, police is yet to arrest those responsible for the crime.
A source from West Khasi Hills police station said they have a lead on the case and investigation is still going on.
Security has also been beefed up for the businessman while suspects are in the radar of the police.
Asked if the HNLC’s claim in their involvement stands true, the source said that it may be the handy work of a local gang or business rivalry.
The source also said that intelligence report confirmed that HNLC’s activity in Shallang happened over 2 decades ago and there is no movement from the banned outfit or other unlawful groups until the attack on Bhansal happened a few weeks back.
The police have assured that the person involved will be nabbed within a few days.
Meanwhile, the locals at Shallang, West Khasi Hills have expressed concern over the rise of crime in the area for the past few months. In February, an IED bomb exploded in one of the coke plants in the area while an attempt on the life of a business man in Kyllon Mathei was made more recently.
“We are fed up with the violence happening in Shallang. For many decades, we were terrorized by militants group such as ANVC, LAEF, GNLA & HNLC. We used to live in fear as we faced extortion, kidnapping and death. We don’t want to see it anymore,” James Sohbar, headman of Shallang Sohbar said during an interview.
Sohbar said when militants were active in the area few years back, markets were closed daily at 4 pm as they were scared to come out in the dark. ‘’ Since the eradication of militants, Shallang has changed a lot in the past 5 years and people are beginning to forget the dark days they faced. But now, it seems as though they will have to go through that again,’’ he said.
Rapthap Ryntong, general secretary of Synjuk ki Nongsynshar Shnong Rilyngngam Umdang area said they want to focus on development of the area, but the past seems to be catching up to them as HNLC has claimed their involvement in the attempt murder of the businessman and the IED blast.
Ryntong said that the Synjuk has appealed to all the groups involved in the fresh violence in Shallang not to interrupt the peace prevailing in the area for the past 5 years. ‘The people of Shallang need peace and development, not violence and crime,’ he said.
‘We cannot take these incidents lightly because today, they may target only one businessman, but in the future they may even target a daily wager,’ added Ryntong.