Shillong, Oct 13: The outlawed Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has claimed responsibility for planting the improvised explosive device (IED) near the residence of former MLA Nehlang Lyngdoh in Umsning, Ri Bhoi district on Saturday.
HNLC self-style general secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw described the act as a “symbolic protest” against the alleged betrayal of the jaitbynriew by corrupt politicians and businessmen for sheltering and empowering non-tribal interests.
On Saturday, the bomb squad of Meghalaya Police defused an IED weighing about 4.7kg.
In an e-mailed statement today, the HNLC accused certain political leaders of sheltering non-tribal settlers, facilitating land transfers, and supporting outside interests that threaten the future of the community. “The trust of the jaitbynriew is not a privilege to be sold or traded,” Nongtraw said.
“The duty of every leader is to protect the land, resources, and identity of our people, not to compromise them for personal or political gain. Acts of betrayal are not mere failings, they are acts of political treason against our people and our ancestors,” he said.
Nongtraw warned that the HNLC will expose every act of corruption, name and shame those who collude with outsiders, and ensure that the people are fully aware of who among them have chosen greed over loyalty.
The outfit also referred to previous incidents involving explosives, including an undetonated device planted at the Shillong SP office in 2004 and another at the Khliehriat police reserve in 2021, which resulted in casualties.
Nongtraw alleged that the police department chose to keep these incidents under wraps, driven by embarrassment.
He also claimed that the HNLC possesses the military capability to confront self-serving politicians, regardless of whether they hold power or not. “This is a final reminder that political authority must be rooted in the will of the people, not in the favor of outsiders. Those who continue to act against the interests of the jaitbynriew will lose the moral right to claim leadership among our people,” Nongtraw said.
