In a significant blow to insurgent activities in Arunachal Pradesh, self-styled Lieutenant Colonel Penngam Konyak of the banned NSCN-R has surrendered before security forces. The 42-year-old, a resident of Nyasa village in Nagaland’s Mon district, laid down arms on Friday at the office of the Superintendent of Police in Tirap’s Khonsa. Konyak surrendered with a pistol and live ammunition.
Officials from Tirap Police, 44 Assam Rifles, and the 36th Battalion of the CRPF were present during the surrender. According to a senior police official in Khonsa, the surrender is a result of sustained pressure and persistent engagement by security forces in the region. The official stated that the surrender reflects the efforts of security forces and police in promoting peace, stability, and security in Tirap district.
It also reinforces the collective commitment towards restoring harmony and creating an environment conducive to development and progress in the region. Officials from 44 Assam Rifles believe that such surrenders indicate the weakening grip of insurgent outfits over their cadres, with many choosing to return to civilian life after years underground. The continued coordination between the Army, CRPF, and local police, along with community engagement in the Tirap-Changlang-Longding districts, has helped create an atmosphere conducive to surrenders.
Security forces have launched operations in eastern Arunachal Pradesh to foil attempts by insurgents to disrupt peace in the region. In recent months, several insurgents have laid down their arms as security forces stepped up efforts to help them return to the mainstream.
