Meghalaya Police have arrested two more suspected members of the outlawed Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), it was announced today.
The two are believed to have been involved in an attempt to detonate an IED at a coke factory in Khliehriat, East Jaiñtia Hills, in 2019. They had also unfurled an HNLC flag in public that year.
According to sources, another two were also arrested. The names of the four are Stopme Ryngkhlem of Wapungskur, Meshanki Pakem of Dkhiah East, Issei Sungoh of Mynsoo and Ranjit Kumar of Khliehriat. All four were produced in court and remanded to six days’ police custody.
Meanwhile, Assistant Inspector General of Police, GK Iangrai, said in a release that today’s arrests were made possible through information gleaned from four suspected HNLC overground workers who were arrested for last week’s explosion at the Police Reserve in Khliehriat.
While names were not provided in the release, sources said, those four were identified as Nangpynphriang Rymbai of Tongseng, Mani Phawa of Wapungskur, B Dkhar of Umkiang, D Syrti of Jalaphet and R Ymbon of Jrikyndeng.
They had boarded a vehicle together and placed and then detonated the IED on the intervening night of July 13-14, which resulted in minor damage to a building and injury to one police personnel.
“The investigation into the case is still in progress and the investigation team is on the lookout for other activists of the proscribed organisation who are involved in the case,” Iangrai said.
