Shillong, Aug 13: Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP) R Chandranathan on Friday claimed that the police had incontrovertible evidence that led the police to raid the house of the surrendered militant Cherishterfield Thangkhiew.

The raid turned to an encounter during the wee hours of Friday, when the joint team of East Jaintia Hills Police and East Khasi Hills Police raided Thangkhiew’s residence at Mawlai Kynton Massar in Shillong.

He informed that Cherishterfield Thangkhiew, the former General Secretary of the banned outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), was involved in the recent IED bomb blast at Laitumkhrah market, Shillong which left two people injured. The DGP mentioned that Thangkhiew was also wanted in the IED blast in Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills.

He said during the raid, on entering the house, Thangkhiew wielded a knife and attacked one of the police personnel who fired a retaliatory shot which injured him. Later, he was taken to Civil Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Two of his associates (Cherishterfield’s son) were taken into custody for interrogation and the police seized a firearm, digital documents, and other incriminating materials, he said.

The DGP added that incontrovertible evidence pointed that the deceased was involved in the series of bomb blasts. He stated that the entire matrix as to how the HNLC operates in the State is determined and further actions will be taken up against the proscribed group to mitigate any threats they pose.