SHILLONG, Jan 31: The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on Monday claimed responsibility for Sunday’s IED blast in Shillong.
“We intentionally planted the IED on Sunday to ensure there is no casualty. But unfortunately some of the CRPF personnel and a civilian were injured in the blast. As per the available information with us, the number of people who were injured in the incident could increase,” HNLC general secretary-cum-publicity secretary, Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement.
Nongtraw said the blast was triggered as the non-local shop owners failed to pay taxes to the outfit.
“We want to send a strong message to the non-local shop owners not to defy our diktat or else they would have to face similar consequences,” the HNLC leader warned.
He claimed the Police Bazar has become a colony of a particular community and it is no longer safe for the locals to walk through the area, especially during the night hours. “We are going to protect our people if the government cannot do so,” Nongtraw said.
Stating that the outfit will continue with its terror activities, he said the police made a mistake by killing the outfit’s former leader and “messenger”, Cheristerfield Thangkhiew. According to him, it is for this reason that the HNLC is angry.
Nongtraw warned that the outfit will not spare the ministers and senior police officials even if Thangkhiew has died.
“We are ready to sacrifice our life for the good of our own community,” he added.
Four blasts in 14 months
Sunday’s IED blast was the fourth in the last 14 months in Meghalaya.
On December 14, 2020, two persons were injured in an IED blast on the complex of Star Cement in East Jaintia Hills. Then on July 14 last year, a similar explosion occurred at the police reserves at Khliehriat in East Jaintia Hills. The HNLC had claimed responsibility for both incidents.
It had termed the blast at Khliehriat as an act of “revenge” against the police for allegedly torturing and killing its members in custody.
On August 10 last year, two people were injured in an IED explosion at Laitumkhrah Market. The outfit had again claimed responsibility.
Three days later, Thangkhiew was killed in a pre-dawn encounter at his residence at Mawlai Kynton Massar. The police had claimed he tried to attack them with a knife when they entered his house and they shot him in “retaliatory firing”.
Less than one month after the incident, an IED was discovered outside the office of the National People’s Party in Shillong on October 4. Hours later, the HNLC had issued a statement saying it had planted the IED to register its protest against Thangkhiew’s killing.
Earlier in 2015, the HNLC had carried out a blast in Jhalupara. The outfit had then claimed that it planted RDX as a warning to Nepalese and other non-tribals of Shillong who were allegedly trying to interfere in the affairs of the Hynniewtrep.