NSCN (K-Angmai) militant wanted in 2022 businessman murder nabbed in Longding

Dibrugarh: Security forces and police arrested a self-styled leader of the NSCN (K-Angmai) faction from the Pangchau area of insurgency-hit Longding district in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday evening.The arrested cadre, identified as Wanglai Wangsa alias Laipa Wangsa, was evading arrest for years and was wanted in connection with the brazen daylight murder of a 70-year-old businessman in 2022.Longding Superintendent of Police Dekio Gumja said the insurgent was wanted in connection with the cold-blooded killing of businessman Atar Sharma on Oct 9, 2022. Sharma, who was running a grocery shop in Longding for nearly 40 years and hailed from Haryana, was shot dead at point-blank range while he was at his shop along with his son, Arun Kumar Sharma, and wife, Billo Devi.Reports at the time indicated the militant group was demanding extortion money from the deceased prior to the killing. The murder triggered a complete traders’ shutdown across Longding town, with residents demanding swift action against the perpetrators.Police said security personnel recovered a semiautomatic pistol, one magazine and five rounds of live 7.65 mm ammunition from his possession. A case has been registered against him under Sections 25(1A) and 27 of the Arms Act, read with Sections 10 and 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.The accused now faces charges of murder, illegal possession of arms and terror-related offences under the UAPA.