‘Release Kharbani or face shutdown’

SHILLONG, MAY 4: Demanding immediate release of HANM president Lamphrang Kharbani and the other four arrested by the police’s SWAT team on May 2, the proscribed HNLC has warned that if they are not released immediately the outfit will call for a total four days shutdown of state and central government offices on the May 8,9,12 and 13.

HNLC has also warned the office goers not to venture out during the shutdown and so at their own risk.

In a statement issued on Sunday, HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said the central command of the outfit strongly condemns the arrest of Kharbani and the other four as he said, “ the allegation made by the police against them are totally baseless and has no ground to stand upon.

Nongtraw said that the purported HNLC letterhead which police claimed to have recovered from them when they were arrested was planted by the police. He said the arrest of Kharbani is a police ploy to defame him and create misunderstanding among the organisation’s members.

Nongtraw questioned as to why a pressure group leader would carry the HNLC letter head when Kharbani is under the police surveillance after being arrested earlier with cases against him still pending. He said earlier too many youths were arrested on mere suspicion of having links with the HNLC.

Nongtraw informed that as HNLC is a revolutionary group of the Hynñiewtrep, it has always maintained good terms with leaders of several pressure groups but this does not justify arresting the leaders of the pressure groups or the NGOs.

Nongtraw also pointed out that the ANVC (B) is having links with many top politicians of the state and questioned as to how many such politicians have been arrested by the police.

Nongtraw also accused East Khasi hills SP (city) Vivek Syiem of being more interested in providing security to Nepalese foreign nationals in areas infested by them but police failed to provide security to the Hynniewtrep people residing in Langpih and Block 1 & 2.

Accusing Syiem of being anti- Hynñiewtrep who Nongtraw accused of always being on the lookout of arresting the leaders of pressure group and implicating them in various cases, he said that many bread earners of families have been arrested by the police. He said the police officer is working against the Hynniewtrep families.

Nongtraw warned, “How long will Syiem stay under protection of his gunmen and the police dept? He is not immortal. How many of the youths of the Hynniewtrep have suffered in the hands of this manipulative cop.” – By Our Reporter