<p>A person was injured as a low- intensity IED went off at a cement plant in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district, police said on Sunday.</p>.<p>Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), a banned militant group based in Bangladesh, claimed responsibility for the blast that took place on Saturday night at the staff quarters of Star Cement.</p>.<p>"One person sustained minor injuries. The blast also resulted in the collapse of a wall, besides damaging a water pipeline," Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar Palecha said.</p>.<p>An investigation is underway and a case has been registered.</p>.<p>The banned outfit said the blast was a result of the company failing to pay them "taxes", or extortion.</p>.<p>"Any industry or company run by non-locals has to pay tax to the HNLC and if there is a violation of the same, they will face our ire," its general secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement.</p>.<p>Several HNLC members have surrendered over the years. Julius K Dorphang, the former chairman of the outfit, surrendered in 2007 and became a politician, successfully contesting the assembly elections in 2013.</p>.<p>The HNLC is wanting to hold dialogues with the Centre and the Meghalaya government for years.</p>.<p>BJP leader and state Health Minister AL Hek, who is pursuing the Centre for the talks, condemned the attack and urged the outfit not to resort to violence.</p>
<p>A person was injured as a low- intensity IED went off at a cement plant in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district, police said on Sunday.</p>.<p>Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), a banned militant group based in Bangladesh, claimed responsibility for the blast that took place on Saturday night at the staff quarters of Star Cement.</p>.<p>"One person sustained minor injuries. The blast also resulted in the collapse of a wall, besides damaging a water pipeline," Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar Palecha said.</p>.<p>An investigation is underway and a case has been registered.</p>.<p>The banned outfit said the blast was a result of the company failing to pay them "taxes", or extortion.</p>.<p>"Any industry or company run by non-locals has to pay tax to the HNLC and if there is a violation of the same, they will face our ire," its general secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement.</p>.<p>Several HNLC members have surrendered over the years. Julius K Dorphang, the former chairman of the outfit, surrendered in 2007 and became a politician, successfully contesting the assembly elections in 2013.</p>.<p>The HNLC is wanting to hold dialogues with the Centre and the Meghalaya government for years.</p>.<p>BJP leader and state Health Minister AL Hek, who is pursuing the Centre for the talks, condemned the attack and urged the outfit not to resort to violence.</p>