Guwahati: Two Naga rebels including one from the NSCN(K) and one from NSCN(R) were apprehended by Assam Rifles during two separate search operations carried out in Wakka village and Jairampur town of Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh respectively on Sunday night.
A defence source informed that based on specific intelligence about rebels trying to terrorise people and carry out extortion in Wakka village, the Khonsa Battalion of Assam Rifles swiftly launched an operation resulting in the apprehension of self-styled sergeant Tonpha Pansa of NSCN(K) with a pistol and live ammunition of various weapons.
In a similar operation launched by the Jairampur Battalion of Assam Rifles based on specific intelligence about Naga rebel trying to terrorise people and carryout extortion in Jairampur town, one Wangwa Hathum, a worker of NSCN(R) was apprehended. During interrogation, the rebel admitted his allegiance to NSCN(R) and divulged that he had been an active member of the banned outfit for last three months and was involved in extortion from government employees and businessmen in Jairampur town.
The security forces have been carrying out aggressive operations in the South Arunachal Pradesh and these two apprehensions has struck a blow to the extortion operations being carried out by the underground rebels in the area.