After much hue and cry, security forces have nabbed NSCN (IM) operative, self-styled major Anok Wangsa, for his alleged involvement in the gruesome murder of MLA Tirong Aboh and 10 others. He is the area commander of the NSCN (IM), and his arrest has been described as a big breakthrough by the security agencies. It is still early days, and unless all the people involved in the heinous killing are arrested, justice will not be done to the 11 souls who were mercilessly killed. Wangsa is a small fish in the net; the investigation agency should go for the bigger catch.
The arrest has exposed the lies of the NSCN (IM), which had distanced itself from the killing. In fact, the investigation agency believes that self-styled major general Absolom Tangkhul of the NSCN (IM) is also involved in the killing. All these findings have exposed the NSCN (IM) and how it is using the ceasefire agreement in Nagaland to unleash its terror in Arunachal. Its cadres are active in districts like Tirap, Changlang and Longding. The government of India should take note of these findings. It cannot let the NSCN (IM) have a free run in Arunachal, using the ceasefire as a pretext. Also, it is alleged that the killing of Tirong Aboh was a political murder. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is now investigating the case, should investigate this aspect too. The NIA should make sure that this case does not end up like the assassination of former MP Wangcha Rajkumar. Till date the authorities have failed to properly investigate the case and punish those involved in it.