Seven cadres of two banned outfits held in Arunachal

Security forces in Arunachal Pradesh have apprehended five cadres of outlawed NDFB and two overground workers of NSCN(R) in separate operations, as a precautionary measure ahead of the Protest Day observation on November 28 by ULFA (Independent), a defence official saod.

The United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) has been observing Protest Day on November 28 since 1990, when the outfit was banned by the government, in memory of its cadres who died in army operations.

In a late-night raid on Thursday, the Jairampur Battalion of Assam Rifles apprehended five rebels of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) from Old Khamdo village in Changlang district, Kohima-based defence spokesman Col Chiranjit Konwer said on Friday.

A cache of arms and ammunitions, including four pistols and one carbine, along with incriminationg documents, were recovered from their possession, he said.

In another operation, the Changlang Battalion of Assam Rifles apprehended two linkmen of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Reformation) from Ledo and Margherita areas in Tinsukia district.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the battalion apprehended Seraj Khan and Sibu Pradhan on Thursday night.

During interrogation, the duo confessed to have extorted money from local people on behalf of NSCN(R).

Security forces have been carrying out relentless operations in South Arunachal Pradesh to free the area from the clutches of the insurgents, the spokesman added.