The two top leaders of the A'chik Songna An'pachakgipa Kotok (ASAK) self-styled Williamnagar East Area Commander, Merak Sangma alias Suanggre and Operational Commander, Dinesh Ch Marak alias Blackboard were arrested yesterday, a senior police official said.
Of the nine, six were arrested from Williamnagar and three from Rongjeng.
He said that all the ASAK cadres arrested were originally from the Garo National Liberation Army and were wanted for killing, extortion and abduction cases in the five districts of the Garo Hills.
ASAK is a newly floated militant outfit led by GNLA's former finance secretary Reading T Sangma.