Lohit district new den for militants

DIBRUGARH, Feb 25 — With militants finding a relatively safe haven in the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh in recent times, the security forces have been caught unawares. All that the security forces knew was that the militants are confined to the Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal but a recent development has made the agencies sit up and take note. On February 17, the Namsai police received a tip-off that one Ramnath Sahni of Chowleham was keeping a stockpile of explosives. His house was raided the same night and a cache of explosives was recovered. Ramnath and his wife were arrested and a criminal case registered. The recoveries included 78 gelatine sticks, 210 detonators, five metres of fuse wire, etc. The husband and wife duo have been charged under the Explosive Substances Act. Ramnath reportedly told the police and security agencies that the Lohit district of late has become a hub of activity among members of the Arunachal Dragon Force, both factions of the NSCN and the ULFA. It is learnt that Ramnath has begun to sing like a canary before his interrogators. And armed with the information so provided, security agencies are drawing up a plan of action to flush out militants from the area. The agencies are concerned that innocent looking civilians are working as conduits for the militants, and providing them shelter as well as supplies of contraband arms and explosives.