Five NSCN-K cadres held with weapons in Arunachal

ITANAGAR: Security forces in Arunachal Pradesh have arrested five "hardened" NSCN (K) militants, including its self-styled revenue secretary and found arms and incriminating documents on them.

A joint team of Lohit and Changlang district police and personnel of the Assam Regiment of the Indian Army arrested five cadres of the rebel outfit from Lohit district during an operation on Friday night, an official said on Sunday.

Police also seized a 9 mm pistol, two magazines, 29 live rounds, pen drives, mobile sets and other documents, including 264 extortion notes and a seal of the organization, a source said.

The arrested cadres include the outfit's self-styled revenue secretary of Lohit district Hongloan Lowakhao along with four of his accomplices, Biswanath Pait, Chow Pintina Choupoo, Chow Sultana Munglang and Faki Wangsa.

Lowakhao, a resident of Paniduria village near Khonsa in Tirap district, was an NSCN (IM) cadre till 2000. He joined NSCN (K) in 2010, the official said. Alerted by extortion notices served by the outfit, Diyun Police laid a trap and arrested Pait, an NSCN (K) linkman in Modai village on December 20, following which Lohit Police and Assam Regiment personnel conducted a joint operation in Namsai (Lohit district) and Diyun (in Changlang district) areas.

The outfit has distributed demand notes for over Rs one crore to various contractors, business personnel, transporters and shop owners.

Tirap and Changlang districts (including Longding) have been witnessing frequent turf wars between NSCN (IM) and (K) factions over for area dominance, the official said.

Despite presence of the security forces, there have been several cases of murders, kidnapping, extortions and other forms of violence in the two districts.

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NSCN(K) militant arrested

ITANAGAR: In a major breakthrough, a self- styled 'second lieutenant' of the NSCN (K), wanted in connection with several cases under the Arms Act, has been arrested in Changlang town, official sources said on Thursday.

Samnan Jugli was arrested from Nadipar area of the town by a joint team of Assam Rifles, state police and CRPF on Wednesday, the sources said.

A search operation was conducted by the security forces after receiving information about his presence in the area during which he was arrested.

He was sent to police remand for further interrogation, the sources said.