DIMAPUR, July 15 (MExN): The Army has announced the capture of a deputy of an NSCN (IM) cadre, who is accused of being involved in the assassination of late Tirong Aboh, former MLA from Khonsa West, Tirap district, Arunachal Pradesh, who was assassinated on May 21.
According to a press release issued by the Defence PRO, Kohima on July 15, the cadre was captured on July 14 in an operation conducted by the AR, Army and Assam Police in the “Namtola-Yampan Axis” in the upper Assam district of Sivasagar bordering Nagaland state.
The captured individual, identified as “Area Commander” Major Anok Wangsa, was travelling when his vehicle, as per the release, was intercepted around 3:30am, Sunday based on “specific information.”
Two 9mm calibre pistols alongwith 28 rounds of ammunition was recovered from the vehicle, the release said, while adding that more weapons were recovered from his house located in the Assam-Nagaland border. It did not specify which side of the border but added that a detailed search of his house resulted in recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition, including 1 AK 56 rifle, 2 HE36 hand grenades, 11 electronic detonators, 1 Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and Rs. five lakh cash.
The release claimed that the apprehended individual is “the deputy” of one NSCN (IM) Major General Absolom Tangkhul, “who is believed to be involved in the killing of MLA Mr Tirong Aboh.”
Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles claimed that Wangsa was involved in demanding money from the local population. Brig Suresh Sheoran, Commander 7 Sector, Assam Rifles, in a briefing to the media in Maibela, Sivasagar, Assam on July 15 considered his capture as exposing “the total contempt of Ceasefire Ground Rules by NSCN (IM).”
“NSCN (IM) while conveniently disowning its own cadre who was apprehended recently in Manipur, denied any wrong doings and had taken a moral high ground. But today we have another glaring example of its duplicity,” Brig Sheoran was quoted a copy of his statement to the media.
