Itanagar: The Itanagar Police have arrested three cadres of a Naga militant group, Eastern Naga National Government (ENNG), along with a small firearm and live ammunition from a hotel in Itanagar, City SP Jimmy Chiram said on Tuesday.
The cops also seized a .22 pistol, 10 rounds of live ammunition, one local ‘dao’ (machete), a knife, and hard cash of around Rs 50,000 from the arrested cadres.
Those arrested have been identified as Jahirul Rehman (30), a native of Assam’s Dibrugarh, Awang Fadong (28) of Tirap, and Gangkha Gangsa (24) of Longding, the SP said.
Acting on intelligence inputs that a few anti-social elements were roaming in Itanagar for carrying out extortion, he said, a police team headed by the in-charge sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Itanagar, Nobin Jomoh (DySP, Traffic) along with Itanagar PS OC Inspector Phasang Simi and OC (SB) Inspector Habung Tapa arrested the persons from Room No. 111 of Hotel Kosing here.
“Though there were some risks involved, our men showed courage and entered the room and apprehended the trio,” Chiram said. Two ‘extortion related demand notes in the name of Eastern
Naga National government were also seized from them along with a red-coloured Tata Nexon car bearing registration number AR-18-1392, the SP said.
Accordingly, a case (No. 513/2021) under Indian Penal Code sections 384/34 read with section 27 Arms Act was registered at Itanagar police station and the investigation is still under progress.
“From the initial interrogation, we got to know that they are working for the underground outfit, ENNG,which is mostly active in the TCL (Tirap, Changlang and Longding) region. They have come to Itanagar to extort money from public leaders and officers for the Christmas and New Year gifts.
“Further, they have revealed that they came to the state capital on the directions from their generalsecretary T Wancho, who has signed the notes,” the SP said, adding further investigation is on.It was not known immediately whether they extorted money in the capital, police sources said.
