The cadres were caught from the outfit’s headquarters-cum-training station at Arda under Harangajao police station.
Two hardcore cadres, however, escaped from the site during the operation.
Those arrested included self-styled commander-in-chief Benjamin Zoalin Zaute, finance secretary Zarathiak, a lance corporal and six trainee cadres.
The arms haul included seven SBBL guns used for training, two 7.6 pistols, two grenades, 15 gelatin sticks and some ammunition.
Additional superintendent of police (headquarters) S.S. Panesar said the police had specific reports regarding the presence of the cadres in the camp, established to carry out the last round of attack on Dimasa villages.
“Before the cadres became aware of police presence, the area was surrounded and there was no chance of any retaliation. Most of them were caught while attempting to flee. Some, including two hardcore cadres, Alex and Parathiek, however, managed to flee,” Panesar said.
The operation was carried out in conjunction with 25 Assam Rifles.
Hills Tigers Force emerged two years back ostensibly to safeguard the rights of the non-Dimasas, who were struggling for a separate district and autonomous council. Currently, the outfit has more than 60 cadres from different non-Dimasa communities.
The outfit was behind the last two attacks on Dimasa villages in which 30 houses were burnt and two villagers gunned down.
Benjamin, 27, and Zarathiak, 27, hail from Moulhoi in Haflong.
“During interrogation, Benjamin and his associates admitted their involvement in all the recent incidents, including the attack on a goods train on October 5, a bomb blast at Mahur and two attacks on Dimasa houses. They also confessed to their relationship with a faction of the NSCN. We are continuing our interrogation to extract more information about the outfit and its future plans,” said a high-level source of Dima Hasao police.