Kohima terror attack: NSCN(K) cadre arrested from Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Dec 25: A Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) cadre, prime accused in the terrorist attack on Assam Rifles personnel at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima on March 26, was today arrested near here.

A team of officers of National Investigating Agency along with Bangalore Police, arrested 27-year-old Atoshe Chopey, a cadre of NSCN(K), the NIA said in a release. According to the release, Chopey, hailing from Zunheboto district of Nagaland, is an active cadre of armed wing of NSCN (K), a banned terrorist organization.

It said he was a part of a four-member team which carried out the attack with AK rifles and pistols on an unarmed group of Assam Rifles personnel awaiting a bus at a bus-stop in Kohima. An Assam Rifle personnel was killed in the attack and three were grievously injured, it said, adding, the attack marked the abrogation of long standing ceasefire between NSCN(K) and the central government.

According to the release, NIA investigators have been closely tracking the group of the four absconding accused and based on specific inputs developed, Chopey was tracked to a location near MG Road in Bengaluru where he had been hiding using a false identity and working at a local lodge with the assistance of his relatives.

He was detained from the lodge today and later arrested after confirmation of his identity. During preliminary interrogation, he has confessed his involvement in the crime, it said.

NIA said it will be producing Chopey before the local Magistrate and will secure transit remand for producing him before NIA Special Judge at Dimapur in the coming days. The agency, which had taken over the case in May, had arrested two hardcore NSCN(K) cadres and has chargesheeted them in connection with the case, the release said.

PTI