Shillong, Oct 13: The HNLC wanted the NPP to close down all its offices in Khasi-Jaintia Hills within one week and asked the people of the state not to vote for the party in the byelections to the three Assembly seats, on October 30.
“We urge the people not to vote for the NPP in the byelection as a mark of protest against the gunning down of Cherish Thangkhiew,” HNLC general secretary-cum-publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Stating that national parties come and go , Nongtraw said, “I feel the national parties are just like a rainbow coalition and that they can never address the problems faced by the state,. Therefore, we need our own regional parties which can deliver and fulfill the aspirations of the people.”
Suchen’s surrender a drama
The HNLC has termed as “drama’ the recent surrender of Emanuel Suchen in Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills district.
“Six months ago, Suchen was arrested by the police for his alleged involvement in the IED blast. After he was released, the police again conducted searches and even threatened him to the extent that he had to go underground and recently decided to surrender,” Nongtraw said.
The HNLC leader claimed that Suchen was never involved in the planting of IED bomb as stated by the police.
“The state police just because they failed to gather enough evidence regarding the IED cases, have resorted to random arrest of former cadres of the HNLC as well as innocent youths as if they are chickens in a farm but it is not easy to arrest cadres of the outfit. Such kind of arrest only shows that the police are weak and are at the receiving end,” Nongtraw said.
