Shillong, Aug. 23: Meghalaya police arrested the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC)’s general secretary Cherishstarfield Thangkhiew’s sister and commander-in-chief Bobby Marwein’s wife on Thursday for their involvement in an extortion drive.

East Khasi superintendent of police A.R. Mawthoh said Marwein’s mother is also facing arrest.

Mawthoh told reporters today that arrested HNLC activists spilled the beans on the two women saying they are not only involved in extortion but also send the money regularly to the leaders in Bangladesh.

Five HNLC members were arrested yesterday from two different places in Dawki and Shillong. The police said these five were also part of an extortion gang.

A police team today raided the house of Marwein and Thangkhiew in Shillong. Mawthoh said a search was conducted in the houses but refused to reveal whether the police found any incriminating documents. He said the police are interrogating the wife and sister of the two HNLC leaders and would soon arrest Marwein’s mother.

Mawthoh said one of the arrested HNLC activists had recently sent Rs 4 lakh to Bobby Marwein in Bangladesh. He, however, refused to say whether Marwein’s wife and Thangkhiew’s sister were directly involved in the extortion racket for the proscribed outfit. Investigations were on, he added.

Mawthoh felt that businessmen who are paying the HNLC are committing a mistake as the militant outfit is in complete disarray. “The HNLC is a disjointed organisation and the money that are being extorted are used by the HNLC leaders for their personal gain.”

Mawthoh warned that the police would take action against those businessmen who have been paying the HNLC under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. He said the police are investigating the identities of the businessmen.