Guwahati: Ahead of Republic Day, miscreants set ablaze nine oil tankers in Assam’s Tinsukia district at around 4.30 pm on Tuesday. The attack took place near Namphai Reserve Forest along the Assam-Arunachal border. No casualty was reported.
Assam DGP Mukesh Sahay said the attack could have been carried out by NSCN-K militants. Fire tenders from neighbouring areas in Tinsukia were rushed.
Additional DGP RP Meena also moved to the site to review the situation. The Army, assisted by Assam Rifles and Assam Police, has launched area domination operations in and around the border areas. Meanwhile, security forces of Dao Division in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam apprehended one NSCN-(IM) member on Tuesday. Based on specific inputs about the presence of an over ground worker of NSCN-IM at Niausa village, an operation was launched in southern Arunachal’s Longding district. The suspect, identified as Wangnyai Wangsu, reportedly revealed the outfit’s plan to recruit more cadres. Rs 3240 and multiple mobile phones were seized from him.
In a separate operation in Tinsukia, a self-styled sergeant major of NSCN-K was apprehended at Ledo along the Assam-Arunachal border. The arrested cadre admitted to being part of the Himalayan group of the banned outfit, and had undergone weapons training in Myanmar. His wife is also believed to be an active member of the outfit.
“In view of the upcoming Republic Day celebrations, Pangsau winter festival and panchayat elections in Arunachal, constant vigil is being maintained. All the units are on alert,” said Defence PRO, Col Chiranjeet Konwer.
In January last year, two jawans were martyred when militants attacked an Assam Rifles foot patrol escorting tourists to the annual winter festival at Pangsau along Indo-Myanmar border.
