HNLC issues death threat to Meghalaya police officer who killed Cheristerfield

SHILLONG: The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has issued a death threat against the Meghalaya police officer responsible for the death of Cherishterfield Thangkhiew, the former general secretary of the banned outfit.

HNLC made this threat while questioning the Meghalaya police, asking that if the state police is claiming that Cherishterfield Thangkhiew, the outfit’s former general secretary, is still alive.

This scepticism arises from the Meghalaya police department’s statement claiming that arrested HNLC members were in communication with military commander Sanbor Pala.

The outfit cited a report from the judicial inquiry led by Justice (retired) T Vaiphei, which allegedly quoted Meghalaya police asserting that Cherishterfield Thangkhiew and Sanbor Pala were one and the same.

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In a statement, HNLC's general secretary-cum-publicity secretary, Sainkupar Nongtraw, expressed surprise at the police department's contradictions regarding the audio recording purportedly featuring a conversation between arrested HNLC suspects and Sanbor Pala.

Nongtraw questioned whether the police now suggest that Thangkhiew might still be alive and criticized the Meghalaya police for targeting individuals suspected of being Sanbor Pala without concrete evidence.

Regarding Thangkhiew's death, Nongtraw alleged a politically motivated conspiracy involving certain ministers within the Meghalaya government, as per the 2022 judicial report.

The HNLC leader vowed consequences for the police officer responsible for Thangkhiew's demise, emphasizing the outfit's determination to unveil the truth.