Shillong: In a coordinated counter-insurgency operation, Ri-Bhoi Police arrested two suspected cadres of the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) for their alleged involvement in an extortion racket targeting local businessmen and government officials in Meghalaya.
Acting on credible intelligence, security forces apprehended one suspect, Pyndapbok Makri, at Lad Quinine while he was reportedly collecting extortion money.
During interrogation, Makri’s disclosures led authorities to Umtyra in East Jaintia Hills, where a second suspect, Lary Pynkmen Nongshli, was arrested by a separate police team.
According to officials, the operation was launched in response to threats issued by HNLC operatives who have been sending demand notes via WhatsApp to Khasi businessmen and government functionaries.
The messages, allegedly sent by Bangladesh-based HNLC elements, included threats of physical harm to coerce victims into paying large sums of money.
Police say the extortion scheme involves the use of local “overground workers” who are tasked with collecting money on behalf of their foreign handlers.
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These individuals are often young men lured by promises of easy money, but end up facing serious legal consequences, while the masterminds operate with impunity from across the border.
A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway to dismantle the extortion network and trace its cross-border links.
