Dimapur, January 6 (MExN): A team from the Noney Area Town Command under the NSCN (IM) Zeilad Region apprehended two individuals allegedly involved in kidnapping and extortion activities at Rangkhung village along National Highway-37 on December 26, 2024.
According to a statement from the NSCN/GPRN Zeilad Region received here, the arrest was following ‘inputs’ from Regional Intelligence (Zeilad Region) as well as civil defense/Police on December 26 “about some unknown miscreants suspected to be NSCN IM carrying out kidnapping activities for ransom and extortion to some innocent drivers…”
The arrested individuals were identified as Singamlung Dangmei, a resident of Puiluanh (Kambiron), and Gaithaolung Gangmei, from Bwanruangh Taudaijang.
As per the statement, Dangmei claimed to be a youth advisor, while Gangmei identified himself as a driver for an MLA Dinganglung Gangmei.
The duo was allegedly extorting `10 lakh from drivers, later negotiating the amount to `6 lakh. They were apprehended before any monetary transaction took place.
Upon interrogation, Singamlung reportedly confessed to being part of multiple extortion activities in the past.
According to the statement, he disclosed that in February 2024, along with others, including Namngekdai Nicholas Gonmei and Thuingamlung Kamei, extorted money from vehicles plying NH-37. Thuingamlung was allegedly identified by Singamlung as General Secretary RNPO and the activities was carried out under the direction Sangamlung Sebastian Kamei, President RNPO, the statement claimed.
Further incidents were reported on December 20, 2024, at Khongsang, where a group demanded `50 lakh from trucks suspected of carrying banned products. The amount was negotiated to `20 lakh, which was later handed over in Imphal, the NSCN (IM) Zeilad Region maintained.
The statement clarified that the extortion activities were carried out without the knowledge or sanction of the NSCN/GPRN, police, or law enforcement agencies and condemned attempts to malign the organisation’s image by associating it with such activities.
The NSCN (IM) also appealed to the public for cooperation in curbing unlawful activities and cautioned that anyone “found involved in future will be seriously dealt with without prejudice, for clean and peaceful environment in the society.”
