Two rebels arrested in Meghalaya

SHILLONG - Two rebels of the Liberation Achik Elite Force (LAEF) were arrested in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district while trying to extort money from truck drivers, police said Monday.

Lebin R. Marak and Soljom S. Sangma, the LAEF rebels, were caught red-handed while extorting money from coal trucks plying through Darugre area under Rongjeng police station, district police chief Sylvester Nongtynger said.

An amount of Rs.2,150 believed to have been extorted from coal trucks was seized from them, he said.

The LAEF, which operates in the Garo Hills regions, maintains close links with other rebel groups in the northeast including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).