Meghalaya rebel group asks for boycott of Independence Day

SHILLONG - The outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) Saturday appealed to the people to join their boycott of the Independence Day celebrations, even as security forces were put on alert across eastern Meghalaya.

“We appeal to the people of Hynniewtrep land (eastern Meghalaya) to join hands with us in this fight for the greater cause of our nation,” HNLC spokesman Sainkupar Nongtraw said.

As a mark of protest to the celebration of Independence Day in Hynniewtrep land, the HNLC has called for a 36-hour shutdown from 6 p.m. Aug 14 to 6 a.m. Aug 16.

At the same time, the Khasi rebel group also called for a night curfew Aug 12 and 13 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on both the days.

“The HNLC will not take any responsibility for anything that happens to any person violating the call for agitation,” Nongtraw warned.

The HNLC, which runs hit-and-run operations from its hideout in Bangladesh, has been demanding a sovereign Khasi homeland in eastern Meghalaya.

Meghalaya shares a 443 km-border with Bangladesh, part of which is porous, hilly and unfenced and prone to frequent infiltration.