IED event in Harijan Colony in Them Iew Mawlong in East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya area, India on Tue 14th March 2023

On March 14, the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) claimed responsibility for the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) bomb explosion that took place on March 9, at Shillong City Bus Syndicate near the Harijan Colony in Them Iew Mawlong in East Khasi Hills District in Meghalaya, reports The Shillong Times. The HNLC statement read, “We claim responsibility for the IED blast at Them Metor (Harijan Colony) on the night of March 9. The Budnar Shadow Squad (BSS), which operates as the special forces of the HNLC, was responsible for carrying out this blast.” The HNLC also demanded that the government should promptly withdraw the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from the Colony to ensure the freedom of movement for the Hynniewtrep people. The outfit blamed the long-standing negligence of the Meghalaya government in relocating the Harijans from the area and said: “We have no choice but to resort to military action. This serves as a gentle reminder that if the government fails to protect our community, we may see Hynniewtrep descend into civil war. Any community that poses a threat to Hynniewtrep will be dealt with firmly. The government must relocate them within one month or face the consequences.”