Three members of Naga insurgent group arrested

In a major blow to Naga insurgents, a senior cadre and two other members of the NSCN (Kitovi-Neopak) group have been apprehended in Kohima district of Nagaland, a Defence Ministry release said on Wednesday.

Acting on information from National Investigation Agency (NIA) about movement of a senior NSCN cadre from Dimapur to Zunheboto, a joint team of Assam Rifles and NIA established multiple mobile vehicle check posts and apprehended a self-styled Brigadier of NSCN (KN) on Tuesday.

During a vehicle check at the mobile vehicle check post in Zubza near Kohima, Assam Rifles troopers apprehended the three from a vehicle.

The three have been identified as 'Brigadier' Aheto H. Chophy, 'Sergeant' Witti Marak and Mughahoto Sumi.

Aheto Chopy is the number three accused in a NIA case pertaining to criminal conspiracy for misappropriation of government arms and ammunition belonging to Zunehboto District Executive Force Kote.

A non bailable warrant was issued against him by a Special Judge of NIA on May 14, 2014 and subsequently on July 8, 2014.

One Type-56 rifle, two pistols, 176 rounds of ammunition, Rs 1,32,320, mobile instruments and incriminating documents were seized during the operation, the release said.

--IANS

ssp/and/rn