Indian Army and Assam Police Dismantle Major Extortion Network of NSCN(IM)

The Indian Army and Assam Police dismantled a major extortion network of NSCN(IM) in Upper Assam and apprehended five individuals. This operation ensures a safer environment for local people while highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by the NSCN(IM).

In a significant achievement, the Indian Army and Assam Police successfully dismantled a major extortion network of NSCN(IM) in Upper Assam on Sunday, apprehending five persons involved, according to an official press release by the Ministry of Defence. The operation began after reliable sources provided valuable information.

"Acting on reliable information, a joint operation was launched in multiple areas of Tinsukia District, Assam, resulting in the apprehension of five key link persons involved in channelizing the extortion money to National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) cadres," said the official release. A tea garden owner who had received an extortion threat of Rs 10 lakhs from an NSCN(IM) cadre was placed under surveillance, leading to the capture of the first Over Ground Worker (OGW), and subsequently, four more linked individuals were apprehended, dismantling the extortion chain.

This coordinated effort has dealt a significant blow to the extortion activities of NSCN(IM) in the Upper Assam region, ensuring a safer environment for the local population. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) is a Naga militant and separatist group in northeastern India aiming to establish a sovereign Naga state, "Nagalim," which would encompass all areas inhabited by Naga tribes in Northeast India and northwest Myanmar.

(With inputs from agencies.)