The National Investigation Agency registered a case on Sunday against the top leadership of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) and its affiliates for killing 18 Army personnel at Chandel in Manipur on Thursday. The agency invoked various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, the Arms Act and the Indian Penal Code.
“The act of waging war against the country has allegedly been executed by the NSCN(K) and its affiliates,” an NIA official said.
Khaplang Pangmi, chairman of the Myanmar-based NSCN(K); Kughalu Molatonu, general secretary; Alezo Chakesang from Nagaland, information secretary; and other senior members of group and its affiliate organisations have been named in the first information report filed by the National Investigation Agency in the Manipur case.
The Army has initiated an internal inquiry into procedural and intelligence lapses in the Manipur attack. Well before reinforcements reached the ambush spot in Manipur and the Assam Rifles sealed the 1,643-km border, the suspected NSCN(Khaplang) group militants crossed over to Myanmar. Within three days, the insurgents struck at an Assam Rifles’ camp at Tirap in Arunachal Pradesh.
“Over the years, Assam Rifles has not been that effective in containing cross-border smuggling and infiltration attempts by insurgent groups such as the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), the United National Liberation Front, the People’s Liberation Army of Manipur and the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak. These outfits have set up camps in Myanmar,” a government official said.
The Defence Ministry last year agreed to hand over the border to the BSF, which also mans the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
