The Indian Army, Assam Rifles and the Assam Police, in a joint operation, apprehended one self-styled major of the Naga rebel group NSCN (IM) with alleged links to the murder of Arunachal Pradesh MLA Tirong Aboh and 10 others in May 21^st, 2019. The accused was nabbed from Assam’s Sivasagar district close to the Nagaland border.

The self-styled major Anok Wangsa, area commander of NSCN (I-M) for the Longding-Charaideo-Mon region was nabbed early on July 14^th, 2019, a press communiqué stated.

The communiqué also stated, “The apprehended individual is the deputy of self-styled major general Absolom Tangkhul of NSCN (I-M) who is believed to be involved in the killing of MLA Tirong Aboh.”

Aboh was the sitting National People’s Party MLA of West Khonsa seat in Tirap constituency in the state. Aboh and 10 others were shot dead by suspected NSCN (I-M) cadres on May 21^st, 2019.

As per the communiqué, Wangsa’s vehicle was intercepted by a team involved in the operation at 3:30 am on July 14^th, 2019 while it was moving on the Namtola-Jampan road and apprehended after identification.

Police also seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition including one AK-56 rifle, several pistols and Rs 5 lakh in cash during the search of the vehicle and Wangsa’s house located on the Assam-Nagaland border.

In June 2019, the Arunachal Pradesh cabinet decided to recommend the assassination case of Aboh and 10 others to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Itanagar | Edited by: Mukut Das | First Published: Jul 15 , 2019