HNLC cautions Meghalaya govt

Shillong, Aug 26 (UNI) The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) today cautioned the Meghalaya government not to force the outfit to take action against relatives of top government officials.

The HNLC's warning came after the state police arrested it's general secretary's sister and commander-in-chief's mother and wife for their alleged involvement in extortion on August 23.

''The government should not provoke the HNLC to take action against relatives of top government officials,'' the outfit in a press release here stated.

Terming the arrest of its leaders' kin as ''unacceptable,'' the outfit alleged that the police was playing ''a dirty game'' to malign its image and urged the local NGOs and public not to allow ''harassment of innocent people.'' The HNLC also denied that all six arrested persons were their cadres.

The outfit also accused the state government of ''using the police department as an agent to carry out its criminal activities.'' UNI