RG Lyngdoh asks traders not to pay HNLC

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 31, 2022

Congress leader and former home minister Robert G Lyngdoh on Monday asked the business community not to make any payments to the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).

His statement came a day after the IED blast at Khyndailad for which the HNLC has claimed responsibility citing that the attack was triggered due to failure of some shop owners to pay taxes to the outfit.

Lyngdoh said the bomb blast at Khyndailad was supposed to create fear among the traders.

This is a tactic used before by militants to bully soft targets, he said, adding that the next step will be to send extortion notes with the threat that the next blast will be targeted at individuals.

“However, paying these militants will be like feeding tiger cubs who will turn into man eaters tomorrow. The business community should not make any payments to the HNLC,” the former home minister appealed.

He suggested that they should invest the money instead in installing hidden CCTVs in and around their establishments and residences so that the potential perpetrators can be identified.

Also Read | HNLC Area Commander, juvenile arrested in Khyndailad IED blast

Asserting the need for society to come out as one community to help each other, Lyngdoh said, “If we do not stand together to fight these antisocial elements we will all be victimized. Remember the late 90s and early 2000s. We all suffered. Only when we all – traditional institutions, civil society, media, businessmen, police and the politicians – worked together could we bring peace and revive our economy. Let us not go back to those days.”

According to him, this violence is not communal in nature because it will affect all communities.

“Let us not fall prey to their tactics. Let us not be selfish. Let us stand united to fight this trend of violence,” he said.

Police have so far arrested a juvenile, who has identified himself as the HNLC Area Commander for Shillong Region and his accomplice.

Also Read | HNLC claims responsibility for Khyndailad bomb blast

In view of this, Lyngdoh further urged the government to identify the reasons leading to the frustration among the youth.

“These reasons should then be addressed and the youth should see that concrete steps are being taken to ensure they have a secure future,” he said.

He also called on the legislators, across party lines, and bureaucrats to join hands to tackle the problems faced by the rural and urban youth. The educated and skilled youth should also be roped in to strategize and find viable short term and long term solutions, he further asserted.