Itanagar: Security forces in Arunachal Pradesh have apprehended an active cadre of proscribed ULFA (I) from Noglo village under Lazu circle of Tirap district on Wednesday, Defence sources said on Thursday.
Based on specific input regarding the likely movement of the cadre of ULFA (I) from areas across the Indo-Myanmar border towards Noglo village, the Khonsa Battalion of Assam Rifles under the aegis of Spear Corps along with the Arunachal Pradesh Police launched a joint operation. The column laid ambush on suspected routes of infiltration.
“On December 21 at about 6.15 am, a suspected individual was seen moving from Indo-Myanmar border towards Noglo village. The individual was challenged by column on which he tried to flee in nearby jungle. However, the individual was apprehended,” sources said.
During initial interrogation, it was revealed that he is an active cadre of ULFA (I), he has moved from the Hachi camp in Myanmar and infiltrated from Border Post 162.
Meanwhile, police said that the apprehended ULFA(I) cadre, identified as ‘self-styled sergeant major’ Biju Bagti, a resident of Dibrugarh, was reportedly trying to cross the international border to reach upper Assam areas close to Arunachal-Assam border, at a time when extortion in the area is rampant.
It was likely he had come to collect an extortion amount from OGWs (overground workers) of the banned ultra group. His apprehension is a major setback to illegal activities of ULFA (I) in the region.
After initial interrogation, the apprehended cadre was handed over to Khonsa Police for further investigation, sources added.
