3 NSCN (K-YA) operatives held with narcotics in Arunachal

Dibrugarh: Three operatives of the Yung Aung faction of NSCN (K) were arrested in Arunachal’s Longding district bordering Myanmar during a joint operation by Assam Rifles’ Khonsa battalion and police.
Tipped off about their presence near Wakka town, the security forces launced Operation Iron Bridge on June 17 and 18 during which the three were apprehended at Wakka and Khanu villages with heroin-based narcotics worth approximately Rs 7 lakh, Assam Rifles sources said.
The arrested persons have been identified as Pongnyai Wangsa (27), a resident of Khanu village, Manthak Sankoi (28) of Nginu village, and Samong Gangsa (22) of Chof village in Longding district.
“The operatives were carrying the narcotics procured from the border areas via Burmese operatives, suspected to be indulging in drug trade to raise money for underground groups. The suspects were likely to further distribute the narcotics in open market. Apprehension of these individuals led to unfolding of a suspected narco-terror funding racket that is being run by anti-national elements. The anti-national elements are devising new ways to fuel insurgency in the region since extortion activities have plummeted due to stiff resistance of the local people,” Assam Rifles sources said.