HNLC Area Commander, juvenile arrested in Khyndailad IED blast

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 31, 2022

An Area Commander of Shillong Region of the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and a juvenile were arrested on Monday in connection with the Khyndailad bomb blast.

This has also led to the recovery and safe defuse of another crude Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Informing this, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui told reporters that two persons including a juvenile were arrested after they are suspected to be responsible for the blast incident.

He said the first accused, who was a juvenile, was identified and picked up hours after the incident took place at 6.30pm on Sunday evening.

“Though his confession, another live bomb was recovered and defused by the bomb squad of the police department (at Demthring area),” Rymbui said while adding that another accused person, who hailed from Nongstoin, was also arrested.

“I am very hopeful that the police will be able to break the nexus and nab all those responsible for this cowardly act,” he said.

Whether commercial hubs would be identified as vulnerable to such incidents, the home minister said that the police have identified all the vulnerable areas in the city as well as the state.

Also Read | HNLC claims responsibility for Khyndailad bomb blast

The home minister further rejected the allegation that it was an intelligence failure on the part of the police.

He defended by saying, “If there was an intelligence failure, the police would not have been able to nab the culprit within a few hours after the incident…police intelligence are alert and many people are under the radar where if anything happens we could track (them).”

Asked if the state government is still keen to pursue the Centre for holding peace talks with the HNLC, Rymbui said, “peace should return then everything is possible.”

Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtnger in a statement said after a few hours of the incident, based on reliable source information, 1 person was apprehended and detained for necessary interrogation.

“During the course of enquiry, he admitted his involvement and claimed himself to be the Area Commander of Shillong Region of the banned outfit- Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC),” he said.

“On his leading, a crude IED was recovered from the residence of his relatives which was safely defused and duly seized in the presence of independent witnesses,” Nongtnger added.

The SP further informed that a case was registered vide Shillong Sadar P.S Case No. 27(01)2022 U/S 120 (B)/427 IPC R/W Sec. 5 Explosive Substances Act and the investigation is in progress.