Shillong rendezvous points to strike arms deal: Sawian

Shillong, Oct 18 (UNI) Meghalaya police have vowed to neutralise the presence of arms dealers in Shillong after the arrest of 11 Assam and Manipur-based militants from different areas of the state.

''We have confirmed the presence of arms dealers in the city and we have worked out a strategy to neutralise them,'' state Director General of Police B K Dey Sawian told UNI here today.

Recently, the Special Operation Team arrested eight Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) and three Manipur-based People's Liberation Army cadres from different locations of the city.

The arrested militants were camping in the city to strike a deal for arms transaction, Mr Sawian said, adding that various North East-based militant's organisations made Shillong as their rendezvous point to strike arms deal.

The arms dealers and militants took advantage to strike deal here due to the huge floating population, the police chief stated.

Mr Sawian said the arms dealers were selling to militant's arms like Chinese M-20 weapon and American made weapons, which are brought to the city through the Mizoram and Cachar areas of Assam.

In the past, the Special Operation Team have arrested a good numbers of arms dealers from the city.

Meanwhile, a team of Assam and Manipur Police arrived here to glean information from the arrested militants.

Last year, the Assam police had seized huge consignment of explosives and arms and ammunition smuggled in from Bangladesh via Meghalaya by banned United Liberation Front of Asom. The seizures include 10 kg of powerful explosives, 15 grenades of Austrian made, 20.9 mm pistols, 450 rounds of ammunition for 7.62 calibre pistols, 80 rounds of other ammunition and 18 magazines.

UNI