Dima Haso, Assam:
At least three suspected NSCN (National Socialist Council of Nagaland) cadres, who allegedly entered Assam to withdraw money from the National Highway Authority of India, were killed on Tuesday in an encounter with security forces in Dima Hasao district. The entire operation took about 60 hours.
Sources said the operation was planned and monitored at the highest level of Assam Police for a month.
More than 300 security forces under the leadership of Assam Police were part of this operation.
Police sources said that after NSCN cadres came from neighboring Nagaland, an encounter took place between N Kubin and Herakilo at a place.
A cash of arms and ammunition was also recovered from men by special units of Assam Police and Assam Rifles.
The NSCN factions have a ceasefire agreement as part of the ongoing peace process with the Government of India and the State Government.
While the agreement is operating only within the regional limited of Nagaland, NSCN factions remain active in Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Manipur.
Police sources said, “Acting on a tip-off about the presence of terrorists, a joint team of Assam Police and central forces started an operation in the area. Once face-to-face, there was a heavy exchange of fire between the security team and the terrorists,” said police sources.
He said that three terrorists were killed on the spot in gunfight, which lasted for 3-4 hours.
Police sources said that local people of Dima Hasao were actively involved in helping the police as they did not want peace to be interrupted in the region.
In February, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Eshk-Muiva (NSCN-Im) announced a new battalion for the ‘Nekan Hills’ region (current Dima Hasao) to make a flutter within security agencies in the area.
Police sources said the organization’s military head Anthony N Shimre had surveyed areas with Tri-Junctions of Assam-Manipur-Nagaland, where the battalion would be based.
