7 HNLC workers arrested

SHILLONG, JAN 25: Just few hours away from the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) sponsored bandh call to protest the celebration of the Republic Day, police made a major haul by arresting seven over-ground workers that includes the outfit’s linkman.

A case under Unlawful Activities Prevention (UAP) Act has been registered against all of them.

Briefing reporters of the arrest of the HNLC over-ground workers, East Khasi hills Superintendent of Police (SP) M Kharkhrang said acting on a tip off the Special Operation Team (SOT) led by two Addl SPs conducted operation and arrested one Manbhalang Jyrwa alias Man from Nongrim Hills, Shillong on Thursday night.

Man, whose original name is Sulfiyan Ali Hazarika, is a close confidant of the outfit’s publicity secretary – Sainkupar Nongtraw and is responsible for editing and publishing articles and propaganda of the HNLC, Kharkhrang said.

Kharkhrang informed that Man is responsible in putting up several ‘Face book pages’ depicting the resurgence of the outfit like “We are Back” and the claiming the responsibility for the firing by the HNLC cadres at Lumdiengjri Police Station last year.

Kharkhrang said, “He (Man) acts as both adviser and linkman for the outfit by giving inputs on all activities of the state and in 2012, he along with other top rungs of the HNLC tried to bring out a souvenir and sticker which did not materialized.”

Kharkhrang informed that Man was also given the responsibility of bringing out as many articles to indicate that the outfit is very much ‘alive’ and aware on the daily events in Khasi and Jaintia hills.

Police recovered one Lenovo laptop, three mobile phones and one micromax dongle and two newspapers which carried the articles of the HNLC which were suspiciously kept in a carton from the possession of Man.

Subsequently the SOT and special cell team of the police also launched a late night operation on Thursday and arrested the six over ground workers who were responsible for the Lumdienjri police station firing that took place on July 2, and the attempt to hoist HNLC at Students’ Field ground, Jaiaw on November 5, 2012.

Kharkhrang said, “The six over ground workers including one lady were arrested from different parts of the city for their involvement in facilitating the HNLC and enabling them to fire at the police station.”

The six have been identified as Bakmenlang Kharpuri of Mawkhar Block 6, Goldy Khongwir, Lawanbiang Dohkrut and Jolene Hazel Khongwir of Wahiingdoh Ria Mohan Lane, Stadpyrkhat Langstieh of Lum Shyiap, Golflink and Phaiborlang Donshiew of Sngithiang, Mawprem.

Kharkhrang said Goldy, Bakmenlang and Lawanbiang are directly involved in hoisting of the flag of HNLC.  He informed that a fresh case under the UAP act is registered against Man at Laitumkhrah PS while the others have been forwarded in the two cases at Lumdiengjri PS.

Kharkhrang said the court has remanded all the seven to 10 days police custody. – By Our Reporter