HNLC threat: Police not dismissive

Our Staff Correspondent

Shillong, February 14: With the decimated Hynniewtrep tiol Volunteer Council (HNLC) issuing email threats, the security agencies in Meghalaya are not dismissive about its possible tramp moves.

The HNLC has again called a 12-hour bandh on February 16. The reason for calling the bandh is seen as another desperate move of the outfit to build for itself a populist image to push the State government for unconditiol talks.

A senior police officer told The Sentinel, “While we view the call for a bandh as another customary and desperate move of the outfit to project itself as an organization which is concerned for the people, we don’t take such bandhs or threats lightly”.

“The outfit’s (HNLC) strength is negligible and there are no inputs to suggest that the desperate 4/5 desperados are up to creating a volatile situation to disturb peace and tranquility in the State,” stated a senior officer, while adding, “Nonetheless, we are not dismissive because our work is to ensure peace and tranquility in the State”.

The senior official elaborated on the security apparatus that has been placed to carry on with the consistency in iling the HNLC, besides assuring that the HNLC bandh will virtually end up in emails to the media.

There is no denying the fact that the HNLC has been reduced to a paper tiger. However, the senior police official said, “We don’t believe in rhetoric while confronting our adversaries”.

“Whether there is a bandh or no bandh, our commitment to ensure peace and tranquility is rest assured,” he stated, while downplaying the series of threats of the HNLC as a move to push itself with its agenda of having a peace talks with the Government

The HNLC strength stands between 35-50 cadres, with some ten of them considered as Bangladesh-based hardcore cadres, informed the source. The source who was instrumental in bringing the ANVC, ANVC-B and UALA into the negotiating table was explicit in saying that the recent activities of the HNLC could be detrimental to its persistent longing for a negotiation with the Government.