Shillong, Jan 22: East Jaintia Hills Police have arrested two more suspects, including a member of the outlawed Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), wanted in connection with the improvised explosive device (IED) blast at the Dhar Construction Company in Shymplong village, East Jaintia Hills.
The HNLC member, Issei Sungoh (29) of Mynso B, West Jaintia Hills district and Embha Ladong (25) of Shymplong were arrested during an operation conducted on Thursday.
Sungoh is also wanted for an IED blast at the police reserve in Khliehriat and other illegal activities.
So far four persons have so far been arrested in connection with the explosion.
Police said both the accused were produced before the Court, which has granted six days of police custody, as investigation in this matter is ongoing.
Earlier, police identified one Smiki Tongper, a resident of Shymplong, as the key planner who executed the blast on December 15, 2025 in coordination with two men who have been nabbed in connection with the blast – Richard Suchen and Pynshaitbor Syih.
Police had also said that in a raid on Tongper’s residence, a country-made rifle and several items that could be used in making IEDs were found, namely three rolls of safety fuse and two small safety fuses, three detonators and six empty detonator caps, gunpowder, 82 small splinters, two handsets and five fuses.
Tongper was arrested in 2023 in connection with a Khliehriat Women Police Station case for sexual assault of a child.
The HNLC had claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging it targeted property belonging to Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar after an alleged extortion refusal.
