Northeast Desk, 22nd October: In a significant development, a member of the outlawed militant group National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN K-YA) surrendered before the Tirap Police in Arunachal Pradesh on October 22.
The individual, identified as Lieutenant Wanghong Nokpa, associated with the militant organization NSCN (K-YA), turned himself in at PS Lazu in the presence of OC PS Lazu SI L Kimsing and a team from the 6th Assam Rifles. Along with his surrender, he handed over a 9 mm pistol and three rounds of ammunition. Subsequently, he was escorted to the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Tirap by the District Police and the 6th Assam Rifles to obtain a surrender certificate.
During the interrogation, the surrendered cadre disclosed a harrowing tale of his induction into the militant group. He revealed that in 1999, when he was a student in class VI at Barap Middle School, he and 18 other young boys were forcibly conscripted by the then Capt. Kewang Diotsa of NSCN(K) for recruitment into their organization. After undergoing three months of basic training, he assumed the role of SS private rank. His journey within the organization was marked by physical and mental hardship, including mental torture by other militants. To make matters worse, he was never compensated for his service at the camp.
Fleeing from the CHQ in Lahong via Ngaimong village in Myanmar, he sought refuge and safety by voluntarily surrendering to the Lazu police station. His primary motivation, he claimed, was to ensure the well-being of his family.
In a heartfelt appeal to the youth, the surrendered cadre stressed that he had been misled by camp leaders when he joined the militant outfit. He urged young individuals to distance themselves from such anti-national elements, serving as a stark reminder of the perils faced by those entangled in extremist organizations.