Top NSCN(K) leader arrested from South Delhi

Special Branch of Delhi Police has arrested a militant of the NSCN(K) from South Delhi’s Lodhi Road. The alleged militant has been identified as Ngamsinlung Panmei (50). He is believed to be the current health minister and a political advisor to the parallel government which has been established by the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland unit. 

Rajiv Ranjan, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell said, the unit is led by SS Khaplang.

Rajan said, a school dropout, Panmei, is believed to be a fine orator in the NSCN (K). Apart from being a self-styled health minister, his main responsibilities include <g data-gr-id="39">fund raising</g> and assigning recruitment tasks for the outfit.

The Special Cell laid a trap near India Habitat Center, based on a tip-off from Manipur Police. He was wanted in an extortion case. Meanwhile, in Delhi, he came to meet an associate. However, the Special Cell senior officials could not trace the alleged associate and were also not able to figure out the reason why he was visiting Delhi.

“In June this year, NSCN (K) had allegedly attacked an Indian Army truck in Chandel district of Manipur in which 18 soldiers were killed. N Panmei is being questioned to ascertain the identity of the assailants,” said Ranjan.

<g data-gr-id="35">Panmei</g> came to Delhi in the second week of July. He had been staying at a rented accommodation in South Delhi’s Mahipalpur area.

In 1997, Panmei joined NSCN(K). Four years later, he was appointed as the captain of the outfit and went on to become a major. In 2003, he became the Deputy Home Minister of the parallel government established by NSCN (K).

He has been assigned the task of gathering military intelligence in Nagaland.