Meghalaya Police on December 18 arrested two overground workers of the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) in connection with an IED blast at a Dhar Company site in Shymplong area of East Jaintia Hills district.
The explosion, which took place on December 15, damaged a water tanker parked at a workers’ campsite. No one was injured in the incident, and the driver managed to escape safely despite being inside the vehicle at the time, police said.
A senior police officer said the two accused have confessed to planting the improvised explosive device. Preliminary findings suggest the IED was made using high explosives, including commercial gelatin sticks, a fact later confirmed by the bomb detection and disposal squad.
East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikas Kumar said the blast was part of a larger conspiracy and that a special investigation team has been formed to follow up on multiple leads. A case has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including attempt to murder, terrorist acts and mischief, along with provisions of the Explosive Substances Act. Sections related to death have not been applied as there were no casualties.
The banned outfit HNLC has claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging that it was carried out after the company failed to meet extortion demands linked to Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar. Police, however, dismissed the group’s claim that a person was killed in the blast, calling such reports circulating on social media false.
Police said the two accused will be produced before a court on December 19, and remand will be sought for further interrogation. Efforts are also underway to track down other suspects linked to the case.