Shillong, June 11: Ri Bhoi police busted a sleeper cell of the HNLC and arrested three persons.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Ri Bhoi SP, Jagpal Singh Dhanoa said in the light of recent serving of extortion/demand notes to several individuals, the district police managed to bust a sleeper cell of the banned HNLC operating in Mawhati-Umroi of Ri-Bhoi and Shillong city.
The sleeper cell of HNLC was headed by the senior HNLC cadre namely Cyfrank Paul Pariat ( in picture) of Ummat village. He, alongside his gang members, served multiple demand notes on behalf of HNLC and threatened several individuals to pay the extortion amount or to face the dire consequences.
Accordingly, a joint operation was launched on June 10 by Special Team of Police Headquarters and Ri-Bhoi police and the following members were arrested.
1. Cyfrank Paul Pariat (25), son of Bluwel Sohtun, a resident of Ummat Village, Ri-Bhoi District-Self-Styled Commander of HNLC
2. Kitbok Mujai (23), husband of Risalin Marsing, a resident of Ummat, Block-II, Ri-Bhoi District.
3.Barnabas Lyngdoh (49), husband of Nelisha Nongbri,a resident of Khyndewsoo, Ri-Bhoi District.
The SP said all the three arrested persons were involved in recruitment, financing and propaganda for banned HNLC under UAP Act and had gone to Bangladesh last year to take training. In this regard, a case vide Umiam PS Case No. 46(06)2024 u/s-120B/506 IPC R/w sec-10/13/17/18 UAP Act has been registered and further investigation is on to unearth linkages of more individuals who may be members/associates of HNLC.
“It’s a general appeal to the public to not succumb to illegal demands of HNLC and bring any illegal contact or demand into notice of police”, the SP added.
