Laitumkhrah bomb blast: Home minister admits intelligence lapse; asks police to explore all angles
The home minister further added that the state will “treat every incident as major,” and that neither the government nor the people of the state will accept such attacks. Rymbui also accepted that the event has forced the government to introspect on state security, and the police are actively ensuring that such activities do not become commonplace.
SHILLONG:
A day after an IED blast rocked Shillong, Meghalaya Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday admitted that it was a lapse on the part of the intelligence wing. He stated that the government never anticipated the incident to occur at a crowded market, such as Laitumkhrah, which is also dominated by tribals.
Calling the event a “wake-up call” to exercise greater caution, he said, “We have seen bomb blasts last year and this year as well… the police should be more vigilant and not treat any information, be it small, as insignificant.”
His statement stands in contradiction to that of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who stated on Tuesday that the attack was not an “intelligence failure”. The CM had also reiterated that it was because of state intelligence’s untiring vigilance that culprits involved in the previous IED blast cases in East Jaintia Hills were apprehended.
When asked about the progress of the investigation into the Laitumkhrah case, Rymbui said, “The police are on the job. All possibilities are looked into — not only in this case. I have given the freedom to the police to execute their plan to ensure that peace prevails and not to shy away from taking action against criminal elements.”
The home minister further added that the state will “treat every incident as major,” and that neither the government nor the people of the state will accept such attacks. Rymbui also accepted that the event has forced the government to introspect on state security, and the police are actively ensuring that such activities do not become commonplace.
When asked whether the blast was an attempt to pressurise the government into a negotiation by the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), Rymbui reminded that the state’s stance on the issue has been clear from the beginning - There will be no talks before surrender.
“I don't consider the incident as a pressure tactic; it as a crime. There are so many ways in which we could solve this issue. For us, the incident at Laitumkhrah is a criminal act, which needs to be condemned,” he said.
Sangma, on Tuesday, had also reiterated that the government is ready for talks only under the condition of complete surrender by HNLC.
Rymbui referred to the statement made by Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong in January this year on the willingness of the government to initiate peace talks with the banned outfit. “Following this, an informal meeting was held to review the demands of the HNLC, some of which are outside the jurisdiction of the Indian Constitution,” he informed.
According to him, one of the demands made by HNLC was to revisit and review the Instrument of Accession and the treaty signed between the 25 Khasi states and the Government of India in 1948. According to the proscribed militant organisation, the Instrument should not be treated as valid; HNLC maintains that the Khasi chieftains were forced to sign the agreements.
HNLC, which runs its operations from its hideout in Bangladesh, has been demanding a sovereign Hynñiewtrep homeland in Meghalaya for over two decades. “I had taken up this issue with the Ministry of Home Affairs, but the government of India cannot compromise on such demands that are not within the ambit of the Constitution,” Rymbui said while calling upon HNLC to lay down arms and join the mainstream.
“We have seen that problems can never be solved through violence and bloodshed — be it border disputes or social issues. It is only through discussion that matters can be resolved,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Adviser to the Chief Minister and former minister, AL Hek has urged HNLC to shun violence stating that talks cannot proceed if violence continues.
"What happened yesterday was very sad. On my part, I am pursuing the negotiation process with the Government of India," he said while urging the outfit to stop criminal activities and not to strike at unsuspecting and innocent people.
(Edited by Ibankyntiew Mawrie)
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