Two arrested in connectionwith IED blast in Meghalaya

Meghalaya Police have arrested two persons in connection with the IED blast triggered by the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) at Shymplong village in East Jaintia Hills district on December 15, a police official said on Sunday.
The arrested accused have been identified as Richard Suchen (31) and Pynshaitbor Syih (45), both residents of Shymplong village in the district.
Investigation so far has revealed that Smiki Tongper and Issei Sungoh who masterminded the IED blast have gone into hiding following the arrest the arrest of Suchen and Syih.
Intelligence sources said that Sungoh is an active member of the outlawed HNLC, and Tongper also an accused in Khliehriat Women Police Station (case No. 45(09)23) under Sections 376(3) IPC read with Sections 3(a)/4 of the POCSO Act, have fled to Bangladesh to evade police arrest.
District police chief of East Jaintia Hills, Vikash Kumar said police had searched Tongper’s house, recovered and seized several illegal items, including three rolls of safety fuse and two small safety fuses, three detonators and six empty detonator caps, gunpowder, 82 small splinters, one country-made rifle, two BAOFENG handsets, and five additional fuses. The police have registered a case under the Terrorist Act, under various sections of BNS including 113 BNS and the Explosive Substances Act.
HNLC General Secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw claimed responsibility for the blast and said that the “company belongs to Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar.”
“Our intention has never been to harm or kill anyone, whether they are tribal or non-tribal. We specifically chose to target only the property of Sniawbhalang, which is why we conducted the detonation at midnight or early in the morning to ensure that no one was injured or lost their life,”
Nongtraw stated in an e-mail statement.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had also issued a stern warning to the outlawed HNLC, stating that his government will take firm action against any unlawful activities following the IED blast at the Dhar Company premises.