AMN /
The National Investigation Agency, NIA, has arrested top leader of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland, NSCN(Khaplang), allegedly involved in the conspiracy behind the June 4 killing of 18 Army personnel in Manipur on the Indo- Myanmar border. Agency sources told AIR in New Delhi that Khumlo Abi Anal, NSCN(K) regional commander, was arrested from Chandel district of Manipur.
This is the first arrest by the National Investigation Agency in the case. The investigation has revealed that the accused was extensively involved in the conspiracy to attack the army personnel and had met with the offenders immediately before the attack. The NIA said, he was also in touch with the offenders before and after the attack.
The case was handed over to the agency on 6th of this month. Insurgents using rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons ambushed a military convoy killing 18 personnel in the worst such attack in recent years.
The Army team was on a road opening patrol as part of its daily routine when it was attacked.