Urges HNLC, NGOs not to take communal angle
TURA: The Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) has slammed the HNLC and Khasi NGOs responsible for threatening Garos residing in Khasi Hills in connection with the abduction of a Khasi coal trader recently.
In a statement issued here on Thursday the outfit said that the threat made on Garos living in Khasi Hills was uncalled for as there was no credible evidence that the abduction was carried out by Garo militants.
“There are crooks that are a mixture of all communities all over going about committing all kinds of crimes. So why blame it on Garo militants? In our state we can see that many dacoits take the name of HNLC, GNLA and other militants groups, be it for abduction, extortion or killing people for ransom,” it said.
The outfit blamed the police for making statements blaming Garo militants while knowing that such a sensitive statement made in the press would create misunderstanding between people of two communities.
“We feel and appeal to our Khasi brethren that this issue should not be given a communal angle and political colour as is being played by police and some political goons,” the outfit said adding that the blame would be on the police if communal tension arose between the people of the two communities.
GNLA claimed that it was trying to trace the abducted victim and his captors and assured the HNLC that it would try its level best to find him to ensure that he returns home safely.
It also made an appeal to the general public not to make irresponsible statements on the sensitive issue so as not to jeopardize the peace and harmony which has existed between the two communities.