HNLC demands immediate arrest of people involved in misusing the outfit’s name for extortion

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 24, 2023

The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on Monday issued a strong warning against those misusing the name of the outfit for extortion activities.

The outfit has also maintained that it is not indulging in any kind of illegal activities as a mark of respect to the Centre and State governments and said that it has assigned its own intelligence wing to find out the persons behind the “fake” extortion notes.

This came a day after a news report alleging extortion notes being served to several people, who majority are from the business community, in the name of the HNLC across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region.

The demand notes were either served by M Rynjah, who claimed to be the outfit’s finance secretary or by Synshar Khymdeit as area collector (East Khasi Hills & Ri Bhoi) of the outfit.

These demand notes were received by both tribal and non-tribal business people in the name of “income tax” for the year 2023. The demand ranges from Rs 15 lakh to 80 lakh.

Outrightly denying the involvement of the outfit in a statement, HNLC’s general secretary-cum-publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said it (extortion notes) is the handiwork of miscreants and that the undersigned are not in any way connected to the HNLC.

He also warned stern action against those misusing the outfit’s name and said, “This is a serious matter and the HNLC warns anybody using the outfits name just for extortion. If found then the HNLC will be compelled to take action as it corrupts the sole nature of the on-going Peace talks.”

Stating that the same types of cases had also surfaced in the past, Nongtraw said that he suspected that it could be a plan to derail the ongoing peace process.

“As the peace talks are progressing forward it could also be a step towards derailing the entire process by people having vested interests,” he said.

Further, Nongtraw said that no agreement has been signed so far between the Government of India, Government of Meghalaya and the HNLC and neither side have not created any attempt to damage it.

“Everything has been adhered to as a mark of respect from the HNLC to the GOI (Government of India) and GOM (Government of Meghalaya) not to indulge into any kind of illegal activities,” he added.

Meanwhile, the HNLC has also demanded the state police to arrest those involved the illegal activities

“The law enforcement agencies should take up the matter seriously from the source of the fake letterhead and get the culprits arrested so as to enable a peaceful atmosphere for the Peace talks to proceed also from the HNLC we are assigning our own intelligence wing to find out the persons involved namely Shynshar Khymdeit and Samuel Wahlang,” Nongtraw said while adding that the pending the finalisation of peace process people can contribute to the Council in the form of donation.