A fierce gunfight broke out between security forces and suspected NSCN-K(YA) militants in Longvi village, located about 8 km from Jairampur town in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district, on Wednesday night. Highly placed official sources confirmed the incident to Arunachal Observer (AO).
According to AO News, the exchange of fire began when militants ambushed a team of security personnel, including jawans from the Indian Army and Assam Rifles (AR), prompting retaliation. No casualties were reported during the unprovoked attack.
As per news reports, the confrontation intensified on Thursday morning around 9:30 AM in Longka village, during a massive search operation launched by security forces. The operation was initiated following the abduction of two workers from an illegal timber camp in Longvi village on January 6. While searching the dense jungles of Longka, security forces encountered NSCN-K(YA) militants, leading to a heavy gun battle.
This incident comes on the heels of a significant security operation in late December, when forces thwarted an attempt to smuggle Chinese-made weapons into Arunachal Pradesh.
According to the official, on December 29, a joint operation by the Indian Army, Assam Rifles, and local police in the Namdapha Reserve Forest led to the recovery of several assault rifles marked “Made in China.”
The recovered weapons were believed to have been buried by the Eastern Nagaland National Government (ENNG) prior to their surrender last year.
A statement from the security forces highlighted that numerous inputs had been received over the past six months regarding attempts by insurgent groups, including NSCM-IM and NSCN-K(YA), with the assistance of ENNG cadres, to retrieve the cache.