Shillong, July 19: The BSF has apprehended a self-styled sergeant major of the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), Joplin Pohtam, from the East Khasi Hills border early this morning.

Pohtam, alias Bahiong, 32, is from Sohkha in Jaintia Hills.

He is a close associate of HNLC commander-in-chief Bobby Marwein, who is still hiding in Bangladesh, and the area commander of the outfit in Dawki.

According to police, the militant along with three others was involved in the killing of Khasi Students Union (KSU) Dawki circle president Phershal Kongwang in 2008 and coal baron Raja Khongsit on the East Khasi Hills border in December last year.

After getting information about movement of HNLC militants, the BSF deployed troops in the Dawki area of East Khasi Hills district in a special pre-dawn operation and apprehended the HNLC commander at 4am when he was crossing the border near Umsyiem, 50 metres inside India from the international border.

A BSF source said as area commander of the HNLC in Dawki, Pohtam used to extort money from businessmen in the border areas of Jaintia Hills.

Pohtam carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh and is one of the most wanted militants by Meghalaya police as he was involved in a series of killings, largescale extortion and kidnapping.

According to police records, besides Pohtam, other senior HNLC cadres — Pariston Pakyntein, Hep Khoit and Bol Khonglah — were also operating in Dawki, engaging in rampant extortion.

While Pakyntein was apprehended by the BSF last May, the other two are still at large.

The police said it was this gang of four which was involved in the killing of the KSU leader from Dawki, Kongwang, though the HNLC has repeatedly denied its involvement.

The same group was also involved in the killing of coal baron Raja Khongsit last December.