Ri-Bhoi district police today busted a ‘sleeper cell’ of the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and three members of the outfit were arrested for serving multiple demand notes and threatening several individuals to pay the extortion amount or face the dire consequences.
The three have been identified as Cyfrank Paul Pariat (25), Kitbok Mujai (23) and Barnabas Lyngdoh (49).
In a statement issued today, Ri Bhoi Superintendent of Police Jagpal Singh Dhanoa said in the light of the recent serving of extortion/demand notes to several individuals, the Ri-Bhoi police have managed to bust a ‘sleeper cell’ of the banned HNLC operating in Mawhati-Umroi of Ri-Bhoi district and Shillong.
The ‘sleeper cell’ was headed by the senior HNLC cadre Cyfrank Paul Pariat of Ummat village.
“He alongside his members served multiple demand notes on behalf of the HNLC and threatened several individuals to pay the extortion amount or to face the dire consequences,” Dhanoa said.
According to Dhanoa, a joint operation was launched yesterday by a special team of Police Headquarters and Ri Bhoi DEF and the three HNLC members were arrested.
“All three arrested persons were involved in recruitment, financing and propaganda for banned HNLC and had gone to Bangladesh last year to take training,” Dhanoa further said.
In this regard, a case under the UAP Act has been registered against them and further investigation is on to unearth linkages of more individuals who may be members/associates of HNLC, he said.
Dhanoa also appealed to the public not to succumb to illegal demands of HNLC and to inform police about any illegal contact or demand.
