The Assam Rifles along with police apprehended an NSCN (IM) cadre from Sailhem village in Peren district on Tuesday and an arms dealer from Super Market area in Dimapur on Wednesday, an Assam Rifles release said on Thursday.
The release said following specific information on movement of armed NSCN (IM) cadres carrying out tax collection in the villages around Khelma to Athibung, the Jalukie Battalion of Assam Rifles along with police launched a search operation in Sailhem village on Tuesday and apprehended the NSCN (IM) cadre, ‘self-styled’ Pvt. Pongam, 23, of Thawho under Noklak town in Tuensang district. One AK 47 assault rifle with magazine, 65 live rounds and other incriminating items were recovered from his possession.
During spot questioning, the apprehended cadre revealed that he along with 20 other cadres were tasked to collect taxes from all households from villages around Khelma to Athibung. He was later handed over to Athibung police, the Assam Rifles stated.
On the other hand, the Dimapur Battalion of Assam Rifles along with police, during a search operations at Supermarket, Dimapur on Wednesday, apprehended one arms dealer along with a .32 mm pistol with magazine and other incriminating documents. He was identified as 32-year-old Abdul Karim of Jalugoti under Morigaon district of Assam and currently residing in Naharbari village in east Dimapur.
He was handed over to Dimapur east police along with the recovered items.