Hardcore NSCN/K operative killed; one arrested in Arunachal Pradesh

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ITANAGAR: Security forces in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh killed a hardcore NSCN/K (Nikki) operative on Thursday and recovered weapons and personal belongings from the slain militant, a senior police official said. Forces also apprehended another rebel from the outfit during an operation on Wednesday, the official said. The Khonsa Battalion of the Assam Rifles and district police killed the rebel, identified as self-styled secretary Wangkhai Wangsa, during the operation on Thursday in an area close to Hukanjuri in the district, Tirap superintendent of police Rahul Gupta said. On Wednesday, forces also apprehended another hardcore NSCN/K (Nikki) militant from the district.

The rebels were serving extortion notices to the people and intimidating them, the police official said. The joint team led by the Borduria police station officer-in-charge and a column of 6 Assam Rifles carried out the operation and successfully arrested a militant of the proscribed group from Bogapani area on Wednesday. The arrested militant was identified as self-styled private Teton Lokhow (22), a resident of Borduria village. During initial interrogation, the SP said it was revealed that the militant was sending extortion text messages and calling influential people.

A case was registered against Lokhow at Borduria police station, the SP said. Gupta added that Lokhow disclosed that two operatives, namely self-styled secretary Wangkhai Wangsa and self-styled private David, were moving in the Longding area for intimidation and extortion activity and might be carrying arms. Based on his disclosure, another operation was launched by the joint team on Thursday to force both Wangsa and David to surrender in an area close to Hukanjuri. Acting on intelligence inputs, the joint team of the 6th Assam Rifles and police under deputy SP (HQ) Togum Gongo moved inside the Hukanjuri Naitong forest areas and spotted both militants. "When they were asked to surrender, they fired on the forces, and in return fire from the security forces, Wangkhai succumbed to gunshot injuries. However, David managed to escape into the forest," the SP disclosed. One 9 mm pistol and a .32 pistol, along with the personal belongings of Wangkhai, have been recovered from the spot, Gupta said, adding that a case has been registered at Borduria police station. The SP said the cadres belonged to Tirap and Longding districts and had been serving extortion notes to locals via WhatsApp and intimidating them through phone calls and text messages.

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