SHILLONG: At least 60 HNLC rebels including many of its top brass have been arrested during this year so far, police said on Tuesday.With the security forces stepping up its counter-insurgency operations almost all the top brass of the outfit were now hiding in Bangladesh, the sources said adding besides the arrest, huge cache of arms and ammunition were seized in the raids during the period.Meanwhile, police stations in the city including mainly Lumdiengjri, Mawlai, Laban, Laitumkhrah and some outposts had been asked to be on allert after Intelligence report suggested that HNLC might attack them in a retaliatory measure.
According to the reports, the threat came only after Friday’s arrest of HNLC senior cadre Joseph Syiemlieh Sanpisa of Lower Mawprem along with another arms supplier identified as Kapu of Madanriting with 150 9mm ammunition from his possession.
The arrest of Syiemlieh, an area commander, was a major setback to the outfit, the sources said adding the police was still hunting for another arms supplier who managed to escape during the encounter on Friday night.