By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 4: Ex-top cop Mariahom Kharkrang, who was at the forefront during peak of militancy in the late 1990s, reasoned that it is not easy for the government to drop all cases against the rebel leaders and its cadres, especially those against whom chargesheet has been filed.
Kharkrang, while expressing surprise over the sudden move of the HNLC to pull out of the peace talks, said the outfit should have waited since it is not easy for the government to drop all cases against the leaders and cadres of the outfit.
“It will depend on the court if the cases are charge-sheeted. It is not possible for the government at one stroke to drop all the cases against them,” said Kharkrang, who is also the chief spokesperson of the State BJP.
He further said that that the government will also have to think about the victims of such cases. “The government cannot just appease one side by dropping all the cases in one stroke of a pen. My question is what justice you will give to the victims of criminal cases,” the former IPS officer said.
Kharkrang said that the HNLC should have allowed the peace talks to continue, and they would finally arrive at an agreement.
He, however, said the BJP is not involved in the peace negotiations with the HNLC. “Our main concern is that peace should prevail in the state. We are appealing to the HNLC to continue with the peace process,” he said.
According to him, it is not right to pull out from the talks just because one of the issues has not been resolved. He also said that the question of trust deficit should not be there since once the government has assured to give safe passage then it must have really meant it.
The BJP chief spokesperson said that the HNLC needs to believe the government since it cannot just fool people like that.
When asked about the death threat issued to Sohra NPP MLA Gavin Miguel Mylliem, Kharkrang said it was uncalled for. “You cannot put the blame on the sitting MLA for the ills which has been going on in the MCCL for the past 30 to 40 years,” he added.