Eight more persons have been arrested in connection with the killing of an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) activist in East Khasi Hills district in February, taking the total number of those apprehended in the case to 16, police said.

Assistant inspector-general of police G.K. Iangrai said CID officers have arrested the eight for alleged assault on Lurshai Hynniewta at Ichamati village in the district, near the India-Bangladesh border, on February 28.

A rally in East Khasi Hills opposing CAA and seeking implementation of the inner-line permit (ILP) regime in the state had come under attack of non-tribals.

A clash had ensued between the two groups, following which Hynniewta suffered serious injuries.

He was taken to a local hospital, where he breathed his last.

With the arrests made on Wednesday, the number of people who have been apprehended in the killing of the Khasi youth rose to 16, Iangrai said.