Shillong, May 3 (Reporter) Meghalaya Police have arrested two suspected Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) militants for their alleged involvement in an extortion racket targeting local businessmen and government officials, police said on Saturday. Acting on credible intelligence, security forces on Friday apprehended Pyndapbok Makri (29) at Lad Quinine in Ri-Bhoi district while he was reportedly collecting extortion money for the banned HNLC. Based on Makri’s revelation, police arrested Lari Pynkmen Nongshli (25) from Umtyra village in East Jaintia Hills district. District police chief of Ri-Bhoi, Vivekanand Singh Rathore, said the counter insurgency operation was launched in response to threats issued by HNLC operatives who have been sending demand notes via WhatsApp to Khasi businessmen and government functionaries. He said the extortion messages were allegedly sent by Bangladesh-based HNLC, included threats of physical harm to coerce victims into paying large sums of money. Meanwhile, police have registered a case, and investigation is underway to dismantle the extortion network and trace its cross-border links...////...