Hardcore NSCN K-YA rebel arrested in Arunachal Pradesh's Longding district

ITANAGAR: Security forces in Arunachal Pradesh apprehended a hardcore cadre of the NSCN K-YA outfit, involved in orchestrating an illegal extortion drive in Longding district of the state, police said here on Tuesday.

A team of Longding Battalion of Assam Rifles and district police during a joint operation, apprehended the rebel on the intervening night of April 17 and April 18. The apprehended cadre was identified as self-styled captain Wangbet Wangjen, a Rajapio of Kanubari area of Wancho Region, who was responsible for illegal extortion drive in Longding district on behalf of the outfit.

During interrogation, the cadre confessed his involvement in threatening villagers and business men to extort money in the recent past. Earlier in May last year, the rebel had kidnapped the Head Gaon Burah of Laukxim village in Kanubari area of the district for defying his faction's extortion demands. The enraged villagers had subsequently staged a mass protest rally against the illegal action of the faction on May 9, last year.

The arrest of the insurgent assumes significance because he was one of the key leaders of the outfit, who have been involved in intimidating locals of Wancho region to pay illegal taxes in the last one year. The relentless successful operations by security forces in the district has generated a sustained pressure on the insurgent groups. It is also a big relief for the locals from the unjustified demands of the insurgent groups.

The apprehended cadre was handed over to Longding police for further investigation, police added.