SHILLONG:
Home Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui, on March 14 informed the Assembly that the Government of India (GoI) has green-lit the peace talks with the proscribed outfit, Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
Rymbui was replying to a query raised by Congress legislator from West Shillong, Mohendro Rapsang on the Improvised Explosives Device (IED) blasts in the state.
Rymbui also informed the House that while arrests have been made in most of the cases, some are being looked into by the commission of inquiries. “That is the reason why further details cannot be given in the cases,” he said.
Rapsang also asked about the measures being taken to prevent IED blasts in the future. To this, the home minister highlighted that to curb such incidents, the police’s cybercrime unit and intelligence have been strengthened.
Further assuring the Assembly that the state government will walk “the extra mile” to ensure peace and tranquillity in the state, Rymbui urged the cooperation of the citizens of Meghalaya in achieving the same.
He also stated that he required notice when Congress legislator Ampareen Lyngdoh sought to know about the government clearing the pending dues of the residents of Laitumkhrah. Notably, their window panes were affected because of the IED blast.
In the last five years, seven IED blasts have taken place in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills regions and HNLC have claimed responsibility for all of them.