Top HNLC militant arrested in Meghalaya

SHILLONG - A top leader of the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), held a day ago after he sneaked into the country from Bangladesh, has been handed over to the Meghalaya police, a Border Security Force (BSF) official said Saturday.

HNLC’s self-styled ’sergeant major’ Paniston Pakyntien alias Pudo was arrested May 6-7 night from Umkrem area in Meghalaya.

“We have handed over Pakyntien to Meghalaya police for further interrogation as he is wanted in several criminal cases,” BSF Spokesman Ravi Gandhi told IANS.

Pakyntien is the prime accused in the killing of a coal exporter Raja Khongsit at Pomshutia area in December last year. He also faces charges of extortion.

The HNLC, which runs hit-and-run operations from its hideout in Bangladesh, has been demanding a sovereign Khasi homeland in Meghalaya.

Meghalaya shares a 443-km border with Bangladesh, part of which is porous, hilly and unfenced and prone to frequent infiltration.