In run-up to the country’s 73rd Independence Day, security forces busted several hideouts of the NSCN-R in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district on Monday evening.
The operation was jointly carried out by 13 Assam Rifles based at Jairampur and Changlang under Dao Division of Indian Army and Changlang district police.
“To counter the nefarious designs of the militant outfits in run-up to the Independence Day, our security forces are carrying out counter-insurgency operations across the district,” Changlang SP Romil Banniya told Northeast Now.
The SP said in the last one week, three camps of National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Reformation (NSCN-R) located at New Jukhi, Old Kamlao and Kovin Honkap were traced and destroyed.
“The ongoing operations in the remote and rough terrains in the last six months bore desirable results leading to apprehension of 33 cadres of the banned militant outfit,” Banniya said.
“The nabbed militant cadres include SS Capt Wangjin Pantha, SS Capt Soltin, Rajapio Wangdi, who were active since 2009,” the top district cop informed.
The SP also informed that six suspected Myanmarese nationals were also held recently during the operations.
Ahead of the I-Day, underground militants’ six camps, set up amidst ‘impregnable’ bushes, difficult terrain and perennial marine locations in the worst militant-hit pockets in Changlang district were destroyed.
These camps were located at Old Jukhi, Magantong ,Jongram, Old Kamlao, New Jukhi and Kovin Honkap areas.
The joint operation team also recovered edible items, utensils, camouflage dress and other war like stores of the rebels in the last 48 hours.
Dog meat was also recovered during the operation.
“For securing the camp, trenches were dug around it to take cover while exchange of fire,” said Banniya.
“Round the clock camp security duty is arranged by cadres on rotation basis. Bunkers are created to take cover in case of grenade attacks,” the SP said giving details of the camps.
“Jungle wood is used as fuel for cooking food,” the top cop informed.
Underground training camps of National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) were also busted earlier following recovery of AK series weapons and other logistic dumps of the militants.
Of two demolished camps, one each at Jongrom and Laibong village of Changlang district along the India-Myanmar border was set up with special format.
Those camps had trenches and militant sentry posts that could accommodate more than 40 cadres receiving training at the same time using it as temporary shelter centres.
In the wake of several militant outfits calling to boycott the I-Day, Banniya said security has been adequately beefed up.
Round the clock patrolling, Nakas and mobile check posts have been set up across the district besides counter-insurgency operations have been launched to thwart subversive designs of the ultras, he added.