SHILLONG: The Meghalaya police successfully busted a newly emerged militant group, the National Liberation Council of Nongkyndong (NLCN) after it arrested seven of its members on August 16.
Among those detained, notably, was a woman and a juvenile. Deputy Inspector General of Police (Eastern Range) Davis NR Marak informed that those arrested included the outfit’s self-styled chairman, commander-in-chief, general secretary and area commander for West Khasi Hills, among others.
“The self-styled leaders including a juvenile are in the net. We shall follow up further leads,” the officer told the local press.
Marak detailed that the NLCN had been conceived in the Eastern Range, particularly in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills regions, by a faction of Khasi-Jaintia youth. Their alleged intentions included waging war against the established government and engaging in a range of illicit activities, such as arms and ammunition procurement, extortion, recruitment of armed cadres, training of militants, establishment of terrorist camps, and plotting acts of terrorism, the Deputy Inspector General of Police informed.
Marak further disclosed that a criminal case has been filed at the Crime Branch Police Station, Eastern Range, Shillong, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. As part of the investigation, the known hideouts of the arrested operatives were searched, yielding the recovery of incriminating materials, including mobile phones and documents that provide evidence of their alleged involvement.
A reputed national newspaper quoted Marak saying that inputs also indicated that NLCN had tied up with other militant outfits of Nagaland and was to send the first batch of cadres for arms training to Nagaland on August 17. Marak further informed that efforts to apprehend the remaining members of the NLCN are ongoing, with law enforcement agencies determined to bring all associated individuals to justice.
This operation gains prominence as it coincides with the advanced stage of peace talks with the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), demonstrating Meghalaya police’s dual focus on both ensuring security and promoting dialogue.
