From our Correspondent

Itanagar, July 29: Security forces in Arunachal Pradesh during a joint operation apprehended a hardcore NSCN (IM) cadre from trouble-torn Tirap district.

A joint team of forces including Assam Rifles apprehended self-styled Sergeant Major Wangpan Mophuk alias Sina Mophuk from Khonsa, the district headquarters on Friday last during a well planned operation, an official communiqué informed here today.

An amount of extortion money was also recovered from his possession.

On interrogation the arrested rebel who hailed from Longbo Village in the district disclosed that he had joined the NSCN (K) in 1999 and later shifted to NSCN (IM) in 2003.

He was also involved in issuing threats and collecting extortion money from public in Khonsa, the communiqué said.

The arrest of the cadre has not only dented the morale of the outfit but also gave a major blow to the extortion racket being run by both the NSCN factions at Khonsa, the communiqué added.

Meanwhile, AR personnel also nabbed a drug peddler from Noglo in the district on Friday and recovered about 750 gram opium from his possession.

The drug peddler Thowang Homtok was apprehended during a routine checking of State transport buses.