24 rebels arrested in Meghalaya

Shillong, July 26 (IANS) Twenty-four rebels of the A'chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC-B) were arrested Saturday from their hideout in Garo Hills region of Meghalaya, police said.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition and incriminating documents were seized from the hideout at Edenbari on the outskirts of Tura, the district headquarters of West Garo Hills.

The arrested rebels include 'camp commander' Martin Ch. Marak. They were arrested for their involvement in killing and kidnapping of non-indigenous people, West Garo Hills district police chief of Mukesh Kumar Singh told IANS.

"They were attempting to create communal tension between indigenous and non-indigenous people. We arrested them based on evidence of their involvement in recent kidnappings and killings," he said.

The ANVC-B is a splinter group of the ANVC, which has been observing a ceasefire for nine years.