Parents asked HNLC to release their son

Shillong, Jun 16 (UNI) Parents of a missing student activist in Meghalaya today asked the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) to release their son unharmed from their hideouts in Bangladesh, even as police claimed that he had been killed by the outfit.

Khasi Student's Union (KSU) Dawki unit president Phershal Khongwang was allegedly abducted by HNLC militants on December 16 from Shyiap, a picnic spot near the Indo-Bangla border.

'' We are not satisfied with the HNLC's denial that they know nothing of the abduction... they must spell out clearly why he (Khongwang) was kidnapped, or if he is still alive then he must be released immediately, '' Phershal's Uncle Presswell Khongwang told reporters here.

Yesterday, Sainkupar Nongtraw, spokesman of the militant outfit denied the allegation by police and some recently surrendered cadre that the outfit had killed Phershall.

Terming the allegation as a 'game plan' by police to tarnish its image, Nongtraw urged the family members of Phershal and the people not to be ''misled'' by such ''false'' allegations.

In fact, four HNLC cadres, who escaped from their hideouts in Bangladesh and surrendered themselves before Border Security Force personnel at Panisagar Border Outpost Post in Tripura, revealed that Mr Khongwang was abducted by three HNLC cadres based in Bangladesh.

They also informed that Khongwang after being abducted was taken to Jaflong, Bangladesh, killed and dumped in a river there.

Not only that, parents of the missing student activist revealed that Phershall's friends Sorkin Lamin and Hep Lamin witnessed the kidnapping of Khongwang by the HNLC.

The duo were also asked by the abductors to inform about the kidnapping to Khonwang's parents, the KSU and Principal of the college, where he studied.

'' The HNLC must clarify its stand clearly on the whereabouts of our son. If he is still alive, we are appealing to the HNLC to release, '' Presswell said.

Police here had all along been maintaining the involvement of HNLC in the abduction.

Police said they were still investigating the case as the body of the KSU leader was yet to be recovered.

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