SHILLONG, FEB 13: The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on Friday announced a 12-hour ‘bandh’ on February 16 to protest against what they alleged a injustices done to Christian community in Delhi , the drivers on the national highway and delaying of the Mookhep probe report by the state government.
The 5 am to 5 pm shutdown will be effective in the entire Khasi-Jaintia hills region of the state, HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement issued on Friday.
“The shutdown is a mark of protest against the injustices done to our Christian brothers and sisters in the national capital, injustice to the drivers on the national highway and delaying of the report on the September 24, 2014 -Mookhep firing incident by the state government,” Nongtraw said.
Accusing the state government and the police department’s of only harassing the general public, he said, “The recent assault on truck drivers and general public in the form of lathi charge by the security forces is a sheer violation of human rights. It should be called not the security forces, but the terror forces.”
The HNLC further alleged that the pathetic condition of the drivers is a creation of the police adding all along the National Highway the police are engaged in rampant extortion but everything goes unnoticed and the poor drivers have nowhere to go for help.
“The weight bridges are the legal points of harassment and extortion. The police get their share from every truck that passes through the check gates,” Nongtraw alleged while pointing out that the recent murder of a police officer from Patharkhmah is a clear indication that the most organized criminals are the officials of the police department.
The HNLC further claim that it had received complaints from the drivers about their unnecessary harassments by the police.
“Many (drivers) had also wanted to join the HNLC to fight back the police forces. The drivers do not trust the state government nor the police, Why? Because they have become the victims of exploitation. The police must immediately stop harrasing the drivers,” Nongtraw said.
Stating that since the NGT ban on rat hole coal mining thousands of drivers have become unemployed and the economy of the state has come to a standstill, Nongrtaw said adding, “So now, shall the state government and NGT feed the families of the drivers. Many drivers’ children have stopped going to school and hence their future is bleak. Who will shoulder this responsibility? The GOM or the NGT.”
“If the GOM and the NGT does not come out with a solution to rat hole mining then we fear that our economy shall crippled and our people shall be forced to go out in search for household jobs outside the region,” Nongtraw said.
Nongtraw, however ,said that the appeal of the state government to the principal bench for extension of deadline for payment of royalty on coal till March 31 is just an eyewash and a pre planned step.
“Steps should have been taken before the expiry on the February 11,” Nongtraw said while stating that it is evident that even a normal driver could assess that the timeframe given by the NGT is illogical and is purely delay tactics adding this is a ploy to control the economy of our people and to exploit them.
The outfit further questioned that whether the chief minister is even aware that the BJP has started its attack on Christians and other minorities in the national capital.
“Very soon the fire of Hindutva forces comprising the RSS, VHP shall spread far and wide. It is time for our people to wake up from slumber,” Nongtraw said adding “Our people are being termed as immigrants by the BJP.”
Nongtraw said that the churches are being destroyed adding security forces in the capital has become puppets of the BJP led government. Is this not an open threat to all the minorities, he questioned.
Nongtraw also alleged, “The BJP is a blood sucking party and it will further try to suck out more blood of the minorities.”
On the delay to make public the inquiry report on the firing incident at Mookhep, Nongtraw said, “The probe into the Mookhep firing incident also seems to be in a manipulative soup as the state government is delaying the enquiry report. The guilty are roaming around Scot free.”
Further Nongtraw questioned where the MIPRL has disappeared, which has called for agitation when the firing incident had happened.
“Since they (MIPRL) had started the movement but now after innocent lives were lost the leaders have switched places and hiding under the shadow of the politicians,” Nongtraw said adding “Shame on these selfish politicians who bargain people’s lives with paper money. On all the millionaires of Jaintia hills who had amassed huge wealth but failed to open up any hospitals for the poor, nor any good educational institutions. They have been selfish and that is the reason for environmental degradation in the region.”
The HNLC also said it extends its support to JSU Ri Jaintia Youth Front (RJYF), Meghalaya People’s United Forum (MPUF), Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM-Jaintia Hills Unit), Ri Jaintia Unit, Hynniewtrep National Youth Front HNYF-East Jaintia unit, for voicing up their concerns for the people who were killed in the firing.
Nongtraw appealed to the drivers and general public to co operate and make the bandh a success. – By Our Reporter
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