DIMAPUR, JULY 11: Kohima police authorities have arrested a person following a raid in Phesama on July 9. An underground activist, said to be a member of the NSCN (R), escaped the raid, the capital’s police stated in a press release that was issued to the media on July 11, Monday.
The raid also yielded several extortion notes addressed to taxis and scrape businessmen, the police said.
The police informed to have found two extortion notes. One was addressed to scrap businessman in Kohima district. It demanded that they submit Rs. 50,000 as so-called “yearly tax,” the police stated.
The other extortion note was addressed to the president of ‘Sumo vehicle union’ in Kohima district to submit Rs. 1,500 per vehicle as “yearly tax,” the police stated in the press release.
The authorities stated that complaints were received on July 9 about the presence of suspected underground workers at the New Reserve in Phesama under Kohima district. A combined team of police personnel from south police station and the NAP (IR) went to the spot and conducted a search operation, the police stated.
“However, before reaching the resident where the suspected cadres were taking shelter, the cadres were alerted by the barking dogs and they managed to escape under the cover of darkness. The house was rummage (sic) around…” the press release stated.
During the search, the police personnel found 7 7.65 mm live rounds, a knife, one Lenovo laptop, a 16 GB pen drive, a pistol holster and a vehicle (Maruti 800; registration number: AS-01L-2249) with its ignition key, the police stated.
Accordingly, the press release stated, the owner of the house identified as one S Yashikaba Sangtam of Chare village under Tuensang district was taken into police custody.
‘…during preliminary investigation, he stated that two of his friend namely Bubu (sympathizer of NSCN-R) and Neibulie (ss major, NSCN-R) were staying in his rented house and Neibulie used to come frequently along with armed bodyguards,’ the police stated in the press release.
“He also stated that particular night both of them came and after offering them black tea he went back to his room to take rest. However, on seeing the police approaching, he saw his friend Bubu escaping, but didn’t saw Neibulie leaving his rented house.”
The “absconder”, identified as one Mezhulhoukho of Piphema village was arrested and taken into police custody, the press release stated.
The police also informed to have found two “demand” notes (extortion ‘notes’), one addressed to the all scrap businessman in Kohima district to submit Rs. 50,000 as so-called “yearly tax” and the other addressed to the president of ‘Sumo vehicle union’ under Kohima district to submit Rs. 1,500 per vehicle as “yearly tax,” the police stated.
“A case under Kohima South PS Case No. 0041/16 U/S 384/212B/120B IPC R/W 25 (1B)(a)Arms Act R/W 7/8 NSR’ 62 is registered against the arrested persons for conducting further investigation.”
