Meghalaya police arrest HNLC Shillong area commander for Police Bazar blast

Guwahati, Jan 31: Meghalaya Police today claimed to have apprehended the self-styled 'area commander' of the banned militant group Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) of Shillong Region for his involvement in triggering an IED blast in Police Bazar area in the heat of the Shillong city on Sunday evening.

In a statement, the SP of the East Khasi Hills district Police, Sylvester Nongtnger informed that the militant leader had been detained within few hours of the blast for his suspected involvement.

Police also recovered a crude IED from the residence of a relative the HNLC militant located at Nongthymmai following interrogation of the ultra.
The crude IED was subsequently defused in presence of independent witnesses.

Meanwhile, the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) claimed responsibility for the IED blast at Khyndai Lad (Police Bazar) yesterday evening, according to a statement issued by the outfit in Shillong.

The HNLC claimed that the blast was carried out near the famous sweet meat shop, Delhi Mistan, because of non-payment of taxes by the shopkeepers to the outfit.

No one was injured in the blast for curfew was imposed in Shillong on Sunday because of the COVID19 pandemic situation.