Shillong, Nov 4: The outlawed Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has blamed police for the violence that arose from an attempted lynching of a man suspected of witchcraft in Khliehshnong, in the Sohra area, on October 30.
Villagers allegedly accused a man of practising witchcraft, leading to widespread vandalism and assault of him and his relatives before police intervened to rescue the victims. Police arrested nine people over the violence.
However, today the HNLC blamed police for the violence, saying that it was the Special Operation Team (SOT) that provoked the local youth into reacting. The rebel group made no mention of the witchcraft allegation.
The HNLC also condoled the death of the Syiem of Sohra, Freeman Sing Syiem, who passed away last week, and congratulated his successor Maremdor Syiem.
