The threat is real. The threat is open. The threat is there for everyone to read on www.syllad.com. Today, 9 June 2019, the HNLC -Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, has issued a statement categorically stating that the residents of Punjabi lane, Shillong must be relocated otherwise they should be prepared to face bullets. Shillong Sikhs seek the immediate intervention of the Sikh community, Sikh bodies and national human rights and minorities’ governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Asking the government of Meghalaya to ignore the contempt notice sent by the Sikhs and other residents of the Harijan Panchayat Committee to the Shillong Municipal Board which has asked for residential documentation within a month, the militant outfit HNLC-Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council has issued a direct threat to kill poor Sikhs who reside in the Punjabi lane area of Shillong.

Posting the threat on the website www.syllad.com, the HNLC threat reads, “The HNLC will repeat history again, there will be many more Lals (a reference to one Lal Singh who was killed in 1995 by the HNLC) in the Harijan community. We have the support of our people and we don’t mind taking military action. This is not only a warning when it comes to protecting the interests of the people, but they shall also press the trigger and their people will fall to our bullets.”

HNLC and other militant organisations representing tribal interests claim that they are the original inhabitants of Meghalaya and all outsiders need to be thrown out of the state. This body was proscribed in the year 2000, but the ban was soon lifted. The HNLC’s prime objective is “to transform Meghalaya as a province exclusively for the Khasi tribe and free it from the domination of the Garo tribe as well as to fight against the presence of ‘outsiders’ in Meghalaya.

The Sikh residents of Punjabi lane, also derogatorily called Sweepers Colony or its local name –Them Metor, since May 31, 2018, are reeling under the threat of the Shillong Municipal Board and the state-formed High-Level Committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong. The High-level committee of the Government of Meghalaya has been issuing statements and notices through the Shillong Municipal Board seeking documentation of residence status from residents of the Punjabi lane as well as forcing an inventory of the houses.

On the other hand, the Harijan Panchayat Committee led by Gurjit Singh has been running from pillar to post -from the High Court of Meghalaya to the National Minorities Commission, to the National Human Rights Commission, to Sikh bodies -SGPC and DSGMC to seek support and protection of the poorest of poor Sikhs of the area.

It appears that the present provocation by the militant body HNLC is the result of the contempt notice which the Harijan Panchayat Committee has launched against the Shillong Municipal Board, which pasted fresh notices on 31 May 2019, on 300 houses of the said area, in clear violation of the orders of the Meghalaya High Court, the NCM and the NHRC, which have all in various orders “restrained the Shillong Municipal Board and the High-Level Committee of the Meghalaya government to maintain status quo ante and not disturb the residents for relocation in any manner whatsoever. ”

The HNLC threat seems to be a well-thought plan of the Shillong Municipal Board, the High-level Committee and the militant body. These words in the threat area a clear indication of that complicity:  “The HNLC has viewed the recent deadline given by the Harijan panchayat to the Shillong Municipal and government sounded more like a warning signal. This issue has been cropping up for the last three decades and we have not seen any solution so far. The government should not soften its stance, as this kind of warning is a warning to the ‘Jaidbynriew’ (for the protection of our own community.)”

Referring to the killing of a Sikh activist Lal Singh in 1995 by the HNLC, the threat note makes its intentions clear by warning, “This is a serious matter, and the CM should take action to bring a solution. If the Harijan panchayat committee still challenges then we shall have to resort to other means for a solution. They may remain under the protection of security forces in Shillong. But they should not forget that their community is present in Khasi and Jaintia hills. If they provoke, we will be compelled to attack their community without fail. Then the Harijan panchayat committee will shoulder the responsibility if any lives are lost.”

Gurjit Singh speaking on the phone line from Shillong told The World Sikh News, “This threat to our lives is real. For the last year, we have had sleepless nights. We have contested for our fundamental rights in courts and government forums.” Talking about his efforts within the Sikh community, he said, “We are grateful to the SGPC, the DSGMC, the Punjab government, Khalsa Aid, Singh Sabha Mumbai, United Sikhs and other Sikh organisations and individuals who have supported us over the last one year. However, now we are in a more difficult position than ever before. These militant bodies and the government of Meghalaya are in a serious mood to kill us to achieve their motive of relocating us so that they can get hold of this area.”

When asked as to what Sikh leaders and organisations can do, Gurjit Singh told WSN, “Please visit us. Please send Jathas for our support.”

The HNLC has also said in the threat note that, “We cannot claim their land in Punjab and they do not have the right to stake claims over our land.” They have also told the government of Meghalaya that “The interference of the Punjab government and its politicians time and again should not be entertained.”

I seek kind attention of @AmitShah Ji towards this sensitive matter where Punjabis are forced to live under the shadow of fear in Shillong

HNLC, an extremist Organization is issuing open warning to Punjabis. Immediate intervention of @HMOIndia requested in the matter @ANI https://t.co/ph6dv61Gwo

— Manjinder S Sirsa (@mssirsa) June 9, 2019

The World Sikh News learns that the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, which has been providing all legal assistance to the Sikh residents of Punjabi lane in Shillong for a long time is seized with the matter and is likely to take up this recent dangerous threat to the highest levels in the Modi government.  In a series of tweets DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa has taken up the matter with the Indian Home Minister Amit Shah and the Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.

Will, the Meghalaya government take action against the HNLC? Will the Ministry of Home Affairs of the government of India take up the matter immediately with the Meghalaya government?

The World Sikh News maintains that intervention by the Sikh community at all levels for the protection of the poor Sikhs at all levels is the need of the hour. It is now or never!