Highway gang, HANM president arrested

Shillong, Nov 22: Police arrested Hynniewtrep A’chik National Movement (HANM) president Lamphrang Kharbani  for illegally procuring weapons from highway gangs even as four of its members were also arrested with a 7.65 pistol used for executing robbery, looting truck drives  plying along the national highway.

The highway gang have been identified as Kitbok Marwein from 7^th mile, Pynshai Rani, Nishak Lyngdoh from Nongrah and Masterlin Lyngdoh..

Additional East Khasi SP Vivek Syiem told reporters Thursday evening that the four have been involved in looting money from the truck’s drivers.

On November 6, the five members’ gang accosted one 12 wheeler truck. Howeve,r when the driver L Rai refused to let them in, one of the gang shot at the truck and a bullet pierce in and hit the driver on his foot. Similarly, the second incident took place on November 18 when the same gang looted Rs 4500 from a truck at Laitkor Petrol Pump..

Syiem said police arrested the four members of the highway gang after police got an \information of their activities. However the fifth member is still absconding.

Stating that all the accused have criminal cases recorded against them, Syiem said that Pynshai Rani is  involved in dacoity and arms  cases and is booked under MPDA,  while the two others Nishak Lyngdoh and Masterlin Lyngdoh are involved in the recent 42 lakhs Central Bank robbery case.

HANM  president Lamphrang Kharbani was arrested for procuring the weapon that was  used by these gang by robbing.

During preliminary interrogation, Pynshai Rani revealed that the weapon was sold to Kharbani for Rs 40,000  which was seized from from Kharbani in Mawkasiang village along with 6 bullets..

After the arrest Kharbani, however, has been admitted to NEIGHRIMS hospital, after he complaint of abdominal pain.

Syiem informed that police are investigating whether the HANM president has a nexus with the highway gang and what was the purpose of illegally procuring the weapon.

Police have also seized one Maruti Van used by the highway gang and mobile phones which were snatch away from the truck drivers. The four highway gang has been remanded to ten days police custody. – By Our Reporter