Security forces nabbed two NSCN (IM) linkmen on Saturday from Namdang and Longphabasti area in upper Assam’s Tinsukia district.
“Based on a specific intelligence input received from local sources regarding movement of NSCN (IM) over-ground workers in Namdang and Longphabasti area for carrying out extortion, an operation was launched by the 9th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles at Namdang area and apprehended the two over-ground cadre,” an Army official said in statement.
The two NSCN (IM) linkmen were identified as Ravi Kumar Paswan and Kena Pangtok. Paswan is the resident of Longpha village while Pangtok is the resident of Phangsum basti of Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh.
One Honda Glamour bike (Regd No AS-23E-5383 owned by Roikam Taikam, a resident of Kaunsa Basti) and two mobile phones were recovered from the NSCN (IM) linkmen.
“Further investigation by joint team of Army and Police revealed that they were tasked by the proscribed outfit to hide heavy amount of warlike stores in forest near Namdang. It was also revealed that these stores were placed with an aim of launching several sabotage actions on security forces and govt functionaries in Margherita area,” the official said.
On search, joint team of Army and Police found heavy amount of explosives including six slabs of TNT, 800 grams of gun powder, 600 grams of RDX, four meters of safety fuze and three detonators.
The nabbed NSCN (IM) linkmen were handed over to Margherita police and an FIR was lodged.
This operation is part of the ongoing crack down by security forces on the militants active in Upper Assam, the official added.