Khasi body condemns killing of HNLC men

The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has condemned the killing of five Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) members, including a former KSU member Macome More Ryntathiang, by a Special Operation Team (SOT)on Tuesday night.

KSU General Secretary Hamlet Dohling said the student body would demand an inquiry into the death. Dohling said if Ryntathiang’s body was not claimed by anyone, the union would perform the last rites. Ryntathiang was the former organising secretary of the union.

On Tuesday, the five HNLC members were killed in an encounter by the police on the outskirts of Shillong. The police claimed the militants opened fire on a police convoy to which the SOT retaliated, resulting in the death of all five.

East Khasi Hills SP A R Mawthoh said the five had crossed over from Bangladesh and were on a mission to kill Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council chief H S Shylla and HNLC Chairman Julius Dorphang, who had surrendered some months ago.