Nagaland: Assam Rifles arrests 65 persons

Kohima, Mar 03: The Assam Rifles (AR), deployed in the state ahead of the March 5 Nagaland Assembly elections, has so far arrested 65 persons, including 38 underground cadres, and seized huge quantity of arms and ammunition and cash over Rs four crore from their possession.

Official sources said here today that AR personnel were on foot and vehicle patrol and had opened Motor Vehicle Check Points (MVCP) in various parts of the state for frisking of vehicles. During their operations, they had so far arrested 23 NSCN-IM, six NSCN(K), two NSCN (Unified), seven Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) cadres and 27 civilians for carrying weapons, IMFL, cash and contraband and other criminal activities.

The 26 AR personnel also seized a huge amount of cash from various persons amounting to Rs 4.10 crore, including Rs 20 lakh from a Congress candidate, on February 29.

The AR personnel seized three AK-47, one AK-56, five country made rifles, one .22 rifle, one 12 bore rifle, six pistols, including one Italian made, one US Carbine, five hand grenades and two crude bombs from the persons. They also recovered several cases of IMFL and 107 kg ganja during the checking at the MVCPs.

Official sources said the AR was trying its best to maintain a peaceful atmosphere for the March 5 Assembly elections and operations will continue till the elections are over.

UNI