By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: An under trial prisoner (UTP), who was arrested for his links with banned militant outfit Hynniewtep National Liberation Council (HNLC), managed to escape from his cell at North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) here on Wednesday morning.
The UTP Phyrnailang Swer (32) was arrested by Jowai police for his alleged links with HNLC on January 24 last from his wife’s residence at Iawmusiang area under Jowai police station. He was later handed over to Shillong police in connection with some other cases.
He was admitted to NEIGRIHMS after he complained of stomach problem.
After an initial inquiry, police arrested two of its armed branch constables — Sangma and Sanborlang Shylla suspecting that they had facilitated the escape of Swer.
The interrogation of the arrested constables is on and they will be produced before a court on Thursday.
It is learnt that seven police personnel were deployed to guard the cell where Swer was kept.
A massive manhunt has been launched to recapture the escapee. The police department has also constituted an inquiry panel to probe the matter.