Shillong, Aug 13: Former HNLC leader Chesterfield Thangkhiew was killed in the early hours of Friday at his residence in Mawlai-Kynton Massar in Shillong.
Thangkhiew, 56, was killed during an encounter with the police after a joint team of East Jaintia Hills police and East Khasi Hills police raided his house in connection with the recent blasts in the state at about 3 am on Friday.
Two persons, including a woman, were injured in an IED blast by HNLC militants at Laitumkhrah in Shillong on Tuesday. Earlier in July, suspected HNLC militants triggered another blast at a police reserve barracks in East Jaintia Hills district headquarters.
As soon as the team entered the former militant’s house, sources said, he attacked the team with a knife and the police subsequently opened fire in retaliation. Police sources said he was injured in the firing and was taken to a hospital, where the doctor declared him ‘brought dead’.
Police recovered one 9 mm pistol, one knife, a laptop and a number of mobile phones from the house former HNLC general secretary.
