Three arrested for murdering two women

Shillong, Sep 16 (UNI) Meghalaya police today arrested three persons involved in the killing of two women at the outskirts of the city, even as one of the accused surrendered before the police.

Of the three arrested persons, one was a dreaded criminal identified as Gabriel Nongtdu alias Fullmoon Dhar (22), wanted in several rape and murder cases in the state. Nongtdu had evaded police arrest for quite sometime.

The other two who were arrested with Nongtdu included Miki Chestar Suchiang (16) and Alos Marbaniang (18). Soon after police made a breakthrough in the case, another accused Khrawborlang Marbaniang (22) surrendered before police and confessed his crime. On Sunday afternoon, police recovered the bodies of two women identified as Walangki Papeng (21) and Jublian Kharmawlong (38) with their neck slit at a forested area in Mawpdang village after being alerted by local residents.

Eyewitness said the two girls were seen having a picnic with Nongtdu and his two friends who came by unregistered maroon colour Santro vehicle on Saturday at Mawpdang.

After parading the suspects before journalists, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police AR Mawthoh said, ''Nongtdu is a dangerous criminal. He is wanted in five cases out of which two cases involve rape and murder.'' ''Nongtdu has connection with militant outfits too and was earlier booked under Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act for criminal acts,'' Mr Mawthoh added.

On August 17, he escaped from the police dragnet recently after he was trying to extort money from a coal trader with two Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) ultras.

Mr Mawthoh said police were on the look-out for one more suspect in the case. One of the suspects is the car owner whose vehicle was confiscated.

''We have identified the suspects, but so far they have been eluding police,'' he said.

The Additional District Magistrate's Court had remanded the three to 14-day police custody.

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