By IANS,
Shillong : A former Meghalaya rebel was Thursday arrested along with seven aides for assault, intimidation and damage to private property, police said. He had laid down arms in 2007.
Julius K. Dorphang was earlier associated with the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
“Dorphang and seven others were arrested this afternoon from Khliehriat based on police complaint filed against them for assault, intimidation and damage of private property,” Jaintia Hills district police chief O. Passi told IANS.
Khliehriat sub-division under the administrative control of Jaintia Hills, is about 80 km east of Shillong, the state capital of Meghalaya.
The seven others arrested are Mayborn Rapthap, Itjanai Soanes, Armstrong Batiar Herman Pakyntien, Richard Mawthoh, Ronnong Dohling and James Lyngwa.
Dorphang, the founder of the HNLC, surrendered before the Meghalaya government due to internal feud within the outfit in 2007.
The HNLC, a tribal Khasi separatist outfit that carries out hit-and-run operations from its hideouts in Bangladesh, has been demanding a sovereign Hynniewtrep homeland in east Meghalaya.