Guwahati: After weeks of the death of former Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) leader Cherishterfield Thangkhiew, the Sur Ki Nong Mawlai has demanded the immediate suspension of the police personnel involved in the alleged killing of the former leader. The demand was raised with a “surprise” knife surrender protest on Friday in front of the state Secretariat.
The protesters submitted several knives in front of the entrance gate of the Secretariat.
The protesters also shouted slogans with placards displaying “MDA government suspend immediately the three top cops”.
Recently there were two IED explosions in Meghalaya and the prime suspect of these explosions was the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) according to the police. The Meghalaya Police had said that there was enough evidence of them believing the HNLC was directly being involved in the explosions and based on these various operations by the police were launched.
During these operations, the police had raided the house of HNLC’s former general secretary Cheristerfield Thangkhiew. However, during the raid, the police claimed that Thangkheiw tried to escape the police and had also attacked the constables with a knife. Due to this, the police had to resort to firing “one round” in self-defense.
The police informed that Thangkhiew was injured in his abdomen after he was hit by the bullet and although he was taken to a hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. The police further stated that a 9 mm pistol, one knife, a laptop, and a number of mobile phones along with incriminating documents were recovered from Thankgkhiew’s house.
But, contrary to what the police said, Thangkhiew’s family has claimed that his death was a cold-blooded murder.
His brother had stated that police had come with the intention to kill Thangkhiew and also denied the claim of a gun being recovered.
Following all this, unrest started in Meghalaya and thousands joined the funeral of the slain militant leader on Independence Day. Local organizations called the day “Black Flag Day” protesting against the killing of Thangkhiew who was also in a peace-talks process and was the mediator between the government and the HNLC.
With all these, unrest started in Shillong and various other parts of the state “forcing” the government to impose curfew and ban mobile internet. Vandalism and arson were reported from various parts of the state. As the government along with the state police was being blamed for the killing, Meghalaya Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui resigned from his post announcing and urged Meghalaya Chief Minister to initiate a Judicial inquiry into the entire matter.