Shillong, Oct 4: The police have registered a case against the cadres of HNLC for planting an improvised explosive device (IED) at the National People’s Party office on Monday afternoon.
Assistant Inspector General of Police (A) GK Iangrai said a blue bag was left unattended in front of the NPP office at Lachaumiere at around 3.30 pm.
The bomb detection and disposal squad (BDDS) besides the police officials of East Khasi Hills cordoned the NPP office and its vicinity and inspected the bag.
“On searching the bag, it was found that it contained a crude improvised device which was instantly defused by the BDDS team,” Iangrai said.
The AIGP further informed that a case under relevant provisions of law is being registered at Laitumkhrah police station against the members of the proscribed outfit HNLC who have made claims through social media about planting the explosive substances in front of the NPP office.
The HNLC had executed IED blasts at Laitumkhrah market on August 10 and at Khliehriat police reserve on July 14.
The HNLC has claimed responsibility for planting the bomb while it also threatened to shoot ministers as it alleged that the recent death of its former general secretary Cherishstararfield Thangkhiew was a complete “political conspiracy” by some ministers.
The HNLC also asked the party workers to resign from the NPP within a month’s time.
In a statement issued after the recovery of the bomb, the HNLC general secretary cum publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said, “This is for the information of the general public, media, police department and the GOM that the HNLC claims responsibility for planting IED at Lachumiere NPP’s office without executing it.”
“We have received information from reliable sources regarding the death of (L) Bah Che, that it was a complete political conspiracy by some ministers of the state of Meghalaya and where these ministers will hide themselves before the upcoming elections, we will hunt them, chase them and intimidate them, hence we will shoot and kill them without any mercy,” he said.
Nongtraw said the outfit has taken an extreme step after the government’s power through the police arrested some innocent people without any proper evidence or proof, simply it was trying to showcase it’s strength by allegedly accusing Cherishstarfield that he was involved in extortion and IED bomb blast
“The allegations against Bah Che were just miscalculation and disinformation,” he stated.
The HNLC warned party workers of NPP and wanted their immediate resignation from the party and they should refrain from joining the party within a month while adding “failing to do so, the Council will take strong measures against the higher- ups office bearers of the NPP in Khasi as well as in Jaintia Hills. Those who go against this warning need not ask any questions or seek any answers from the HNLC”
