Banned militant outfit Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has asked the people of Meghalaya not to vote for the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) in the upcoming by-elections in the state.
By-election will be held in the three Assembly seats of Meghalaya on October 30.
The HNLC also served a one-week deadline for the NPP to shut down all its offices in the Khasi and Jaiñtia Hills region.
“We urged the people not to vote for the NPP in the by-election as a mark of protest against the gunning down of Cherish Thangkhiew,” HNLC general secretary Saiñkupar Nongtraw said in an emailed statement on Wednesday.
Thangkhiew, a former self-styled general secretary of the HNLC, was allegedly killed during police raid at his residence in Shillong on August 13.
“I feel the national parties are just like a rainbow coalition and that they can never address the problems faced by the state,” he said.
“Therefore, we need our own regional parties which can deliver and fulfil the aspirations of the people,” Nongtraw said.