The IED blast that struck the Khliehriat Police Reserve two days ago was not the consequence of a failure of intelligence, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said today.
Intelligence is a continual affair but it is not possible to keep a track of every individual who might want to attack the state, he said.
Early on Wednesday morning an IED exploded outside a building in the reserve, causing minor damage but no fatalities. The outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) immediately claimed responsibility. This was the third such similar attack to have hit the district.
Sangma further informed that two people have been arrested on suspicion of carrying out the attack. They are believed to be overground workers of the HNLC.
On the possibility of talks with the militant group, the CM said that the state government has periodically raised the possibility with the Centre but that the HNLC needs to forswear violence first.
“There is a procedure and a process that has to be followed and the most important thing is that they have to shun violence and lay down their arms,” he said.
