Arunachal Pradesh, Feb 20: In a major security operation, the security forces in Arunachal Pradesh thwarted a potential terror attack by arresting an NSCN-IM militant and recovering a significant cache of arms and ammunition in the border district of Longding on Friday.
The operation was carried out by a joint team of Assam Rifles, Special Task Force, and Longding Police, based on specific intelligence inputs. During the raid in Tissing, near Zedua village under Longding police station limits, security forces arrested a self-styled ‘captain’ Ponglem Wangpan (35), an active member of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM).
The forces recovered a 5.56 mm INSAS rifle with a magazine, a 9 mm pistol with a magazine, 18 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, and two rounds of 9 mm pistol ammunition from the militant’s possession.
Wangpan was reportedly leading a four-member group that had crossed into Longding with plans to kidnap or kill a targeted individual. However, the swift action of the security forces prevented the planned attack. The arrested militant was taken into custody, and an FIR has been registered at the Longding Police Station. Further investigation is underway.
In a separate operation, Arunachal Pradesh Police in Namsai district seized 133 grams of suspected heroin, worth approximately Rs 7 lakh, and arrested a woman involved in the trafficking. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Authorities have intensified combing operations in the district to track down any remaining militants and drug traffickers, reinforcing their commitment to securing the region and tackling criminal activities.
