NAGALAND: SECURITY FORCES ELMINATE HARDCORE NSCN(IM) CADRE IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Security Forces under the aegis of DAO Division has been carrying out relentless operations to maintain peace and tranquility in South Arunachal Pradesh. Since the beginning of May , reports of NSCN(IM) carrying out extortion activities in the region had been received and a proactive strategy was adopted by the Security Forces to deter the undergrounds. In a major operation launched by the Khonsa battalion, a hardcore NSCN(IM) cadre was neutralised near Nignu Village, Londing district in the evening of 25 May 2018. The neutralized cadre has been identified by the locals as Self Styled Sergeant Pangang Gangsa of NSCN(IM), the cadre was previously part of NSCN(K) and reports say that he was also involved in ambush against Security Forces personnel on 3 Dec 16 in Nignu wherein two soldiers were martyred.

Acting on a specific intelligence report about presence of NSCN(IM) cadres near Nignu village trying to carryout extortion from villagers of Nignu , Khonsa battalion launched an operation in the afternoon of 25 May 18. The columns while approaching the suspected hut where the cadres were staying were fired upon by a militant who was standing outside the hut, he also started shouting to warn the other cadre and tried to flee. Second militant came out from the hut and started firing on the Security Forces column. The column retaliated with fire on the militant and eliminated one of the fleeing cadres. The other cadre however exploiting the jungle and dense foliage managed to escape. A pistol with ammunition, grenades and other incriminating evidence was also recovered from the neutralised cadre. The search for the escaped militant was still in progress at the time of filing of this report