HNLC triggers IED blast in coke factory in West Khasi Hills

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 20, 2020

SHILLONG: The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on Thursday triggered an IED blast at a coke factory in Kyllon Mathei village near Riangdo in West Khasi Hills District.

The incident took place at around 1.30 am when the IED blast partially damaged the factory, police said. However, no casualties were reported during the incident, they said.

According to them, the windshield of a truck parked in the premises of the factory was also damaged.

West Khasi Hills superintendent of police BJ Laloo said the blast was of very low intensity. A case has been registered and investigation into the matter is on, he said.

Meanwhile, the HNLC has claimed responsibility for the IED explosion citing that it was a warning to all political leaders and businessmen to refrain from indulging in corrupt practices.

“The IED explosion at Riangdo was just a small beginning in order to prove that we could have planted it in crowded places and created more casualties,” outfit’s general secretary cum publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement issued.

“We did in Shillong Jhalupara and Jaintia hills without causing any hurt or injury. We have always been provoked by the police about our capabilities and this is again a warning that we could well plant it anytime at a vulnerable place and then the outcome shall be devastating. This is a warning to all the political leaders, Businessmen  to refrain from indulging into corrupt practices,” he said.

Earlier last month, an IED bomb was planted inside a coke factory at Umpleng (Bthei) village in East Jaintia Hills District but it was immediately defused by the bome disposal squad.

Nongtraw said the reason (behind the blast) is because all these coke factories are benami. He also alleged the involvement of an NPP MLA/MDC Gigur Myrthong and Dharmu from Rajasthan.

“(It is) operated by non tribals and these factories are flourishing by the help of the local politicians and businessmen. It is an irony to see that even the employees are all non locals and our own people are deprived of jobs. Areas like Riangdo, Shallang were always doing brisk coal business but till date we did not see any kind of development in those areas,” he said.

Stating that the same thing applies even in Jaintia Hills, the HNLC leader said for decades we have seen coal mining and rich businessmen living luxurious lives in Jaintia Hills but no development at all.

He added that there is not even a good hospital or a nursing home in jaintia hills. All the rich businessmen make trips to apollo Delhi and Chennai but the locals are deprived of all the necessary healthcare.

“The economy of the state is going down drastically. Right from the Congress regime till the MDA regime nothing has changed. All the representatives of legislative assembly are responsible for our sorry state of affairs. Coal being the prime business of the state had generated huge revenues all the while but that was of no use. It filled up the government private miners exchequer and the politicians, but our masses are still suffering under poverty and unemployment, under development are at the rise,” he said.