Shillong: The Superintendent of Police (SP) of East Jaintia Hills, Vikash Kumar (IPS), on Thursday confirmed that an improvised explosive device (IED) blast did take place at a residential area of workers of the Dhar Company, but firmly denied the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council’s (HNLC) claim that one person was killed in the incident.
According to the SP, the blast occurred around midnight on December 15 at a workers’ camp of the Dhar Company. Police received information about the incident on December 16, following which the matter was verified and a Crime Scene Unit team from Shillong was dispatched to the site.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the IED had been planted beneath a water tanker parked at the location. At the time of the blast, only the driver was sleeping inside the vehicle. He escaped unhurt, sustaining only minor pain in his leg while jumping out of the tanker due to the sudden impact.
The SP stated that the explosion caused damage only to the tanker and no other property or persons were affected. An FIR was registered on Tuesday, but no case under homicide provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been invoked, as there was no loss of life.
He added that the investigation is progressing swiftly and expressed confidence that the case would be concluded soon. “All those found involved in this act of terror will be dealt with strictly as per law,” the SP said.
Meanwhile, the banned HNLC, in a statement issued by its General Secretary Saiñkupar Nongtraw, claimed responsibility for the IED blast at the Dhar Company premises in Shymplong under Elaka Narpuh. The outfit alleged that one person was killed in the explosion.
The HNLC further claimed that the attack was aimed at associates of Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, accusing them of refusing to pay extortion money demanded by the group. The organisation stated that the blast occurred at around 1 am on December 15.
The militant group also alleged that the incident was deliberately concealed from the media, claiming that only local residents were aware of what had transpired. However, police have categorically rejected any attempt at suppression and denied the claim of a fatality.
