Two cadres of separate factions of the NSCN have been arrested during joint operations by security forces and police carried out in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Assam Rifles in a joint operation with Arunachal Pradesh Police apprehended a revenue and political officer of NSCN (Khaplang-Kitovi) in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday.
“After receiving specific intelligence regarding the presence of a senior cadre belonging to the proscribed group, a joint team launched an operation in the area and nabbed the cadre,” said a police source.
#NEOps #AssamRifles alongwith #ArunachalPolice apprehended the Revenue & Pol Secy of NSCN(KK) near Jongji Havi, Changlang on 09 May.@adgpi @SpokespersonMoD @official_dgar pic.twitter.com/gVHAFqvzcu
— EasternCommand_IA (@easterncomd) May 10, 2020
The apprehended cadre has been identified as SS Captain Hangnong Pangtha.
According to police, it is suspected that the individual on behalf of his group was involved in extortion activities and extorted money from locals, contractors, and government officials.
He was allegedly involved in extortion in Tirap-Changlang-Longding belt of south Arunachal Pradesh.
The apprehension of the cadre has brought relief to the PSUs and locals of Changlang who have been facing trouble due to extortion.
The apprehended individual has been handed over to Changlang police station for further investigation.
In another joint operation, carried out by Army troops with Assam Police, a hardcore cadre of NSCN (K-Yung Aung) was arrested from Singphan reserve forest of upper Assam’s Sivasagar district.
The apprehended cadre has been identified as 37-year-old SS Private Laipa Konyak of Namsa village in Mon district of Nagaland.
Based on a specific input, the joint team launched a swift operation and apprehended the cadre from the forest located along the Assam-Nagaland border.
Troops of @adgpi in a joint operation with @assampolice Police apprehended a hardcore cadre of NSCN (K-YA) identified as SS Private Laipa Konyak along with one Point 22 Bolt Action Rifle and five live rounds ammunition in Sibsagar District of Assam on May 09. @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/chFCdJLOSl
— PRO, GUWAHATI, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, GOVT OF INDIA (@prodefgau) May 10, 2020
“It is suspected that the individual was actively involved in extortion activities in the region. The team also recovered one .22 Bolt Action Rifle and five live rounds of ammunition from the insurgent,” said Guwahati-based defence PRO Lt Col P Khongsai.
The successful operation has caused a major dent in the activities of the proscribed group in the region, Khongsai claimed.
“The apprehended individual has been handed over to Mathurapur police station in Assam for further investigations,” the defence PRO added.