Meghalaya Police foils jailbreak by three rebel groups

Shillong, Aug 12 (IANS) The Meghalaya Police on Friday foiled a jailbreak by arrested rebels of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) from Shillong district jail.

Based on intelligence inputs about the planned jailbreak, a police team along with a magistrate searched the high security cell of the district jail.

"We recovered knotted ropes of 16.5 ft length made out of synthetic woolen blankets were found hidden in the bushes near the rear wall of the high security area," Superintendent of Police (Shillong City) Vivek Syiem told IANS.

On further searching, Syiem said two improvised iron hooks were also found with a makeshift rope ladder was also found hidden under an abandoned sentry post besides several torn strips of blankets meant for preparing the ropes were found from the bathroom at the 1st Floor of the High Security Cell.

Syiem said that there are 18 inmates which includes GNLA Chairman Champion Sangma, ULFA rebel Bikhot Asom, HNLC rebels as Nobleson Rynjah, Phrankor Rynjah, Kyrseiboklang Lyngdoh, John Fishal Lyngkhoi and Shanborlang Rani lodged at the high security cell.

"We will be approaching the Court seeking its permission to take custody of the main suspects involved to escape from the jail," the police official said.