War of words over Cheristerfield’s surrender, Shillong

A Correspondent

Shillong: The war of words between the Government and the opposition over the surrender of former Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) general secretary, Cheristerfield Thangkhiew continued on Tuesday.

Meghalaya opposition leader, Mukul Sangma asked if the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government has a standard operating procedure for surrender of militants. Mukul Sangma questioned the return of Thangkhiew, a senior member of the HNLC, without any arms. The opposition leader said, “It should have been the political department which should have taken a call on how to move forward on the matter.”

On Monday, Deputy CM and National People’s Party (NPP) leader Prestone Tynsong said that when Dr. Sangma was the Chief Minister the former HNLC general secretary had spoken to then Home Minister Roshan Warjri but he did not want HNLC to come over ground. Tynsong said that the opposition leader could have had an ego problem that the HNLC talked to his Home Minister and not to him.