NSCN's recruitment bid foiled, 32 youth rescued

Guwahati: In what has set the alarm bell ringing, the NSCN (I-M), holding ceasefire and engaged in peace-talks with New Delhi, has suddenly intensified their activities on various front as Assam Rifle on Monday claimed that they have busted a covert recruitment racket of NSCN (I-M) in Mon district of Nagaland recently.

This has come close on the heels of Myanmar Army busting a camp of NSCN (I-M) and recovering a huge cache of arms and ammunitions with Indian currency worth '3.70 crore.

PRO (Defence) Lt Col Sumit Sharma said the covert recruitment racket of NSCN (I-M) was busted in Mon on November 21.

Referring that on specific input regarding a group of youth being taken by NSCN (I-M) cadres to Aopao camp from villages under Mon district for recruitment, the PRO said that Army and Assam Rifles pursued a Bolero pick-up vehicle and intercepted it on Mon-Aboi road, foiling a major recruitment bid. Two NSCN (IM) cadres were apprehended and 32 people hailing from Laokkun, Tizit town, Jaboka, Nokzang, Hatothi (Naginimora) and Chingphoi villages were rescued.

It was also revealed that youths from local areas have been lured away by various groups on the pretext of providing jobs post Naga solution, the PRO stated.

Meanwhile, Assam Rifle has handed over all those apprehended youths to Mon police.

Admitting that recent activities of NSCN (I-M) starting from recovery of huge cache of arms and ammunition in Myanmar to recruitment drive in Nagaland has been alarming, security sources said that NSCN (I-M) leadership looks reluctant to distance itself from the culture of arms and ammunition.

Fearing that a section of NSCN (I-M) leaders may try to form their own armed units to hold back sophisticated arms and ammunitions, security sources admitted that NSCN (I-M) has been given ample freedom to work out strategy to hold back arms and ammunitions even if the peace-agreement is signed.