SHILLONG, Aug 16: Demonstrating empathy and unbridled support, thousands of people took part in the funeral procession of former general secretary of the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, on Sunday.
Giving a hero’s farewell, people gathered along the roadside at Mawlai to pay their last tribute to Thangkhiew while the coffin containing his mortal remains was taken from his residence at Mawlai Kynton to his cemetery of Motsyiar Church of God at Lawmali.
at the funeral procession in Mawlai, on Sunday.
The cortege also passed through Mawlai Nongpdeng, which is a locality where he had grown up. People who participated in the funeral procession including women had chanted slogans like “Long Live HNLC” and “Long Live Bah Che”. Even children were seen shouting slogans to hail the militant outfit. For the first time, the banned HNLC seemed to have got an unprecedented public approbation with people unabashedly supporting the militant organisation.
But this was not a surprise as the outfit had got support from the local population during the initial years since majority of its cadres hail from Mawlai.
Interestingly, none of the political leaders attended either funeral procession or the funeral service of Thangkhiew, while expectedly leaders of the various pressure groups were present.
It may be mentioned that the Ultimate Legend Bikers’ Association had organised a bike rally to various parts of Mawlai carrying black flags to protest against the killing of Thangkhiew allegedly in a “fake encounter”.
Thangkhiew was killed in an encounter at his house at Mawlai Kynton Massar in the wee hours of August 13 in a retaliatory firing by policemen after he allegedly attacked them with a knife when they raided his house.
However, there was a breakdown of law and order in some parts of Shillong city on the day of the funeral. The untoward incidents began with pelting of stones at a truck in Jaiaw Langsning on Sunday morning.
In another incident, miscreants hijacked an SUV (ML05 F 3013) belonging to the Mawkynroh-Umshing Police Outpost in the afternoon. The incident took place while the funeral service was going on. The miscreants also took away three INSAS rifles and later torched the vehicle at Jaiaw Pdengshnong.
Meanwhile, a vehicle carrying CRPF personnel was attacked by protesters at Mawlai Nongkwar during the curfew hours on Sunday night. The CRPF personnel were rushed to the area after reports of tyres burning in the middle of the road.
The agitators then pelted stones at the vehicle. In retaliation, the CRPF personnel allegedly vandalised a vehicle belonging to a vernacular daily. However, the driver of the vehicle suffered injuries due to the baton charge by CRPF jawans.
In another incident, miscreants had hurled two petrol bombs at the private residence of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma at Lai Mer, Upper Shillong. There was no damage or injury to anyone. The residence is unoccupied since the Chief Minister has been residing at his official bungalow.