Shillong ( Meghalaya), June 11 : A sleeper cell of the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) was busted, and three cadres of the outfit were arrested for serving demand notes and threating 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), Ri Bhoi SP Jagpal Singh Dhanoa said in a statement.
SP , 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.
He added that the ‘sleeper cell’ of HNLC 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.
Accordingly, a joint operation was launched on Monday, June 10 by a special team of Police Headquarters and Ri Bhoi DEF and arrested the HNLC members.
“All three arrested persons were involved in recruitment, financing and propaganda for banned HNLC under the UAP Act and had gone to Bangladesh last year to take training,” Dhanoa further said.
A case has been registered and further investigation is on to unearth linkages of more individuals who may be members/associates of HNLC in the state.
He also appealed to the public to not succumb to illegal demands of HNLC and bring any illegal contact or demand to notice of police.
