9 Hurt in Meghalaya Blast; CM Calls up Rajnath, GNLA Denies Hand

Posted on January 12, 2016 0 Comments1,285

10 Jan: In one of the most audacious attacks by suspected Garo militants in
the heart of Williamnagar town, a powerful improvised explosive device
was detonated outside a wine store at the centre of the market during
peak trading time on Saturday noon leading to nine civilians sustaining
injuries.

Among the nine people who sustained injuries four are
said to be serious and have been taken to Tura civil hospital together
with another minor injury victim for treatment. The prime accused in the
attack during the weekly market day is the banned Garo National
Liberation Army (GNLA) which operates from its strongholds in the Durama
Hills, across the Simsang river.

According to eyewitness
accounts, Saturday being a weekly market day people were purchasing
essential items from the stores when the IED hidden in a bag and placed
outside Warimong wine store at the centre of the market exploded with a
deafening sound at around 12:45 pm.

The store belongs to a
prominent businessman from Williamnagar identified as Winderson R
Sangma. The impact from the blast was such that the wine store was
totally destroyed with even its roof being blown off and a stop
attendant inside sustaining serious injuries. The other victims were
reportedly passing through the area when the explosion took place. Some
of the victims were thrown to the ground due to the impact of the blast
and remained there before locals with support from the police lifted
them and rushed them to the Williamnagar civil hospital for emergency
treatment.

The nine injured victims have been identified as
Probith N Marak (22) of Songsak, Jolash Marak (48) of Chekwegre, Pledash
T Sangma (48) of Sobokgre, Andrew R Marak (35) of Chekwegre, Rosel
Momin (50) of Rongbokgre, Jacob Marak (29) of Rongonggre, Pisen Sangma
(72) of Warimagre, Shyam Sharma (16) of Nabakgre and Silvarinba D Sangma
( 41 year old lady) of Warima.

Following the incident security
has been tightened throughout the town and the blast site cordoned off.
Deputy Commissioner Cyril Diengdoh and SP Davis Nestell R Marak visited
the blast site and also the injured victims at the hospital and arranged
for the seriously injured to be shifted to Tura for medical treatment.

GNLA
tax: Meanwhile, Meghalaya police have blamed the banned GNLA for the
Williamnagar market IED blast and stateed that the reason was because
traders and businessmen have refused to comply with the financial
demands of the militant group. The GNLA had reportedly served demand
notes ranging from one to ten lakh rupees on traders and businessmen at
the start of the December month, last year. They were reportedly angry
that most traders had not paid them their tax and to send a message
across the militant group had lobbed a hand grenade at Kundu store, last
month.

According to senior police officials, the militants triggered the IED blast to send a message across to the business community.

GNLA area commander of Williamnagar, Ajan Ch Momin alias Jimmy is
accused of dispatching a cadre to the town to place the IED on the
orders of their military chief Sohan D Shira. The attack comes less than
a week after North Garo Hills police intercepted a Tura registered
Bolero vehicle in Bajengdoba area and recovered over a thousand gelatine
sticks and electronic detonators that are used for IEDs which were
reportedly sent by the ULFA for the GNLA.

CM Calls up Rajnath,
GNLA Denies Hand in Blast: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who
called up Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh following the IED blast at
Williamnagar, has urged the Centre to pay heed to the request of the
state government for providing assistance to augment its resources to
tackle militants waging war against the State, even as proscribed GNLA
has denied involvement in the blast.

“I have taken up with Home
Minister Rajnath Singh on various issues pending in his office with
regards to the security concerns of Meghalaya,” the Chief Minister said.
According to him, the response of Home Minister was positive. “He is
aware of the situation and I am confident that he will address our needs
and requirements in the near future,” the Chief Minister said

In
his telephonic conversation with the Union Home Minister, Sangma said
that Meghalaya and the entire Northeast remains prone to various acts of
destabilisation by “anti national forces” and that the Centre needs to
address it with urgency. The Chief Minister said, “Many forces and
agencies are working against the interests of the nation and we need to
be alert at all times and for that, we also need to be properly
equipped. Some of our proposals are lying with the finance ministry and,
I have requested Home Minister to clear the pending proposals which
he had promised to examine”.

Earlier, the Chief Minister in a
statement has condemned the attack by the anti-national forces on the
innocent people at Williamnagar. According to the Chief Minister, the
cowardly act needs to be condemned by all citizens of the state.

GNLA
denial: Meanwhile, GNLA has denied its involvement in the blast. The
GNLA publicity secretary Gantong Ch Marak issued a press statement on
Saturday night denying the involvement of his armed organization in the
explosion.

“We have no hand in Williamnagar blast. Accusation put
on us by police is erroneous. We condemn such devious act. We don’t have
intention of harming innocent people by such dastardly act.
Unnecessarily spilling blood of innocents is against our working
policies,” claimed the GNLA secretary Gantong Marak in his communiqué.

Pointing
a finger of suspicion on small time criminal gangs targeting the
business community for a pay off, the GNLA publicity secretary blamed
the police intelligence failure for the incident. Simply putting the
blame on GNLA for each wrongdoing of others will not solve the issue.
Police ought to work harder to get after the real culprits to protect
the public, added the GNLA in their statement.

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