M’laya Dy.CM appeals to HNLC to come back for peace talks as Govt is ready to take action against anything that is beyond legal boundary 

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 21, 2024

Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong has yet again appeal to the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) to come to the negotiating table. 

According to him, the government is fully prepared to take action against anything that is beyond the legal boundary.

The HNLC had recently claimed responsibility for the March 9-IED bomb blast incident at Them Iew Mawlong and issued a one month ultimatum to the state government for relocating the 342 families of Sweepers’ Colony from the area.

Speaking to journalists, Tynsong said he will not comment on the HNLC’s statement but not less than 3-4 years now, the issue of relocation is still under serious consideration of the government.

“Not only that, we are pushing hard to reach the final conclusion as far as this issue is concerned,” he said.

Tynsong informed that a series of meetings were also held with the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC). “In fact, right now, the issue is still lying with the Meghalaya High Court. It is yet to be decided by the High Court as they are waiting for the last meeting that we need to meet (as government and the HPC),” he said. He said, “In fact, we have already requested the members of the HPC to indicate the time, the date for the meeting because we would like to meet. Not only meeting in fact the High Court has already indicated that resolve this issue at the earliest possible and if not, then the Court will take its own course of action.”

“Therefore, I am expecting very soon, we will again be able to meet, sit down with the HPC and once that is done, we will be able to reach out to the resolution,” he added.

Asked on the government’s stand against HNLC activities, Tynsong said that the outfit should return to the peace process.

“I am telling you still I am continuing to appeal resume talks, think hundred times because right now from the government side we are fully prepared, anything which is beyond the legal boundary of any activities if it is beyond the legal boundary, the law will take its own course. That instruction is very clear, whoever is responsible, be it HNLC member or be it anybody, we will not at all allow such illegal activity to happen in the state of Meghalaya,” he said.

The active sleeper cell of the HNLC was also busted recently leading to the arrest of four members from Ri Bhoi district. Investigation of the police revealed that the objective of the sleeper cell was to explode more IEDs in Shillong and Nongpoh.

The deputy CM however maintained that the government is very firm that it will not allow such illegal activities to happen at any cost.

“Right now instruction has been given to the police force to make sure that such incidents that has happened should not repeated and any culprit and any person, who involved in this activities, right now you knew, you saw it that they have already been arrested and now the investigation is on, I will not be able to detail everything but let me tell you I assure the citizen of the state, we are safe and the police will not sleep till we make sure those responsible be nabbed and be punished as per law,” he said.