The outlawed Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has denied having links with Synshar Khymdeit stating it is a “staged intelligence operation” or “fabricated” by elements within the police department itself to build a narrative of threat and fear, and to continue demonizing it in the public eye.
Back in 2023 Khymdeit was accused, among other things, of trying to extort Rs 20 lakh from a woman in Mawlai. Prior to this, his name was also reported to have appeared in a demand note as HNLC area collector in East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi.
Khymdeit’s name again surfaced after a businessman in a letter to the Shillong Press Club recently accused him of being an HNLC collector.
HNLC general secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw in a rebuttal to reports that appeared today stated that it was a politically motivated propaganda. “We view this entire narrative as an attempt to malign the name of our council through false, fabricated, and sensationalized claims,” he said.
According to Nongtraw, on July 24, 2023 the Meghalaya Police officially acknowledged that the HNLC letterhead being circulated was fake. “This official verification completely dismantles the so-called evidence now being regurgitated to push an old narrative. Why, then, is this debunked material being recycled through anonymous letters and planted media stories?” he questioned.
He claimed that the name Synshar Khymdeit is being misused by certain defectors of the HNLC for their personal gain and to carry out illegal activities under the garb of the HNLC. “He reportedly operates a Facebook account under the name ‘Bah Bah Suting’. It is also important to highlight that HNLC has never issued any letterhead carrying joint signatures, which is a clear red flag in this case,” Nongtraw stated.
The HNLC also denied having link with another man they named Wanjingshai. “If the police are genuinely interested in justice, then it is their job to arrest Synshar Khymdeit, treat him as a suspect and conduct a proper investigation and not propagate unverified stories through anonymous businessmen and media outlets,” the outfit said.
It also accused the police of using the media as a “courtroom” and said the department should stop playing with the fears of the public to meet political objectives. “This attempt to paint HNLC in a false light will not succeed. We urge the public to remain vigilant, question these narratives, and not fall prey to political manipulation and media drama,” the HNLC added.
