Itanagar, Jan 12: The Khonsa Battalion of Assam Rifles, under the aegis of Inspector General Assam Rifles (North), successfully apprehended two Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of the NSCN-K (Nikki Sumi) faction during a series of targeted operations conducted in Khonsa Market and Deomali areas of Tirap district on Sunday.
Acting on specific and credible intelligence regarding rampant extortion activities in the Khonsa Market area, a swift and well-coordinated joint operation was launched by the Assam Rifles and Arunachal Pradesh Police. At around 4.30 pm, one OGW was apprehended near a wine shop in Khonsa Market while collecting extortion money from a local shopkeeper.
The apprehended individual was identified as Khechan Khetey (30), a resident of Old Paniduria village under Borduria police station in Tirap district. He is an active OGW of the NSCN-K (Nikki Sumi) faction. Recoveries from his possession included one extortion note of NSCN-K (Nikki Sumi), one mobile phone, one SIM card, and CCTV footage related to the extortion activity.
Based on information obtained from the apprehended OGW and further intelligence inputs, the operation was extended to the general area of Deomali. At about 8 pm, another OGW was apprehended while forcibly extorting money from a local shopkeeper.
The second individual was identified as Danwang Maphouk, a resident of Lazu village in Tirap district, who is a strong sympathiser and active OGW of the NSCN-K (Nikki Sumi) faction. Security forces recovered extortion cash amounting to Rs 3,93,140, one smartphone, one keypad mobile phone, three SIM cards, and one handbag from his possession.
Both apprehended OGWs, along with the recovered items, were handed over to Khonsa Police Station for further investigation and legal proceedings.
The successful conduct of these operations underscores the unwavering commitment of the Assam Rifles towards maintaining peace and security and curbing insurgent-linked extortion activities in Tirap district, in close coordination with the state police and civil administration, officials said.