HNYF Mawlai Circle president among duo held
Organisation alleges harassment by police
NONGPOH, July 11: Ri-Bhoi police have arrested two members of the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) after they confessed to getting trained in Bangladesh to carry out illegal activities.
The arrests were made based on the interrogation of four HNLC cadres — Cyfrank Paul Pariat, Kitbok Mujai, Barnabas Lyngdoh, and Wanpynshngai Dympep — who were arrested earlier.
According to Ri-Bhoi Superintendent of Police, Jagpal Singh Dhanoa, one of the four arrested cadres (Cyfrank Paul Pariat) revealed that he had undergone training in Bangladesh with one Kynsaijun Thabah (32), a resident of Umlyngka, Kynton Block-II, East Khasi Hills, for a period of one month from mid-July 2023 till mid-August 2023.
Accordingly on July 5, Thabah was arrested and, during examination, confessed to being a member of the banned HNLC and that he had undergone training during the same period together with Cyfrank Pariat.
Thabah also revealed the name of one co-accused, Sanborlang Rapsang (38), who helped to arrange logistics for their movement to Bangladesh last year. Rapsang is the president of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) Mawlai Circle and also holds the post of assistant disciplinary secretary of the HNYF central body.
Rapsang, a resident of Mawlai, Umjajiew, East Khasi Hills, was arrested on Thursday afternoon, and an investigation is under way to get more details from the accused persons.
Later in the evening, leaders of the HNYF East Khasi Hills District expressed their dismay over the sudden arrest of one of their members (Sanborlang Rapsang) by Ri-Bhoi police.
Speaking to the media outside the Nongpoh police station, HNYF EKH president Steve Khyriem and assistant general secretary T Swer highlighted their concerns regarding the recurring police harassment targeting members of the Front.
“This harassment by the police against our members is not new. It has been happening repeatedly, with the police singling out members of our organisation,” Swer said.
The leaders accused the police of forcefully linking their members to the HNLC. “The fact that our president, Sadon K Blah is engaged as an interlocutor in the peace talks between the HNLC and the state government does not mean that our members are associated with the outlawed group,” they stated.
Emphasising their commitment to lawful conduct, the HNYF leaders sent a clear message to the authorities. “We continue to follow the right path and respect the law. We urge the police, the government, and Home Minister, Prestone Tynsong to refrain from further mistreatment of HNYF. Otherwise, when the time comes, they may not be able to control the situation,” the HNYF leaders warned.
The HNYF called for an end to what they described as the unjust treatment of their members, urging the authorities to handle the situation with fairness and respect for legal procedures.
Meanwhile, P Rapsang, the elder sister of Sanborlang Rapsang, expressed her dismay at her brother’s arrest on Thursday afternoon.
“Sanborlang is a responsible person who takes care of his family, children, and the community. He is always ready to help anyone in need,” she claimed.