In a joint operation, the National Investigative Agency (NIA) and the Bengaluru Police on Friday arrested a cadre of the banned National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), the prime suspect in the attack that took place on Assam Rifles personnel at Kohima’s Indira Gandhi Stadium on March 26. Based on a tip-off, the sleuths raided a hotel on M G Road here and arrested Atoshe Chopey (27), a resident of Akuluto town, Zunheboto district, Nagaland.
He came to Bengaluru about six months ago as his sisters work here. He managed to get a job in a posh hotel on St Marks Road, said the police.
During preliminary interrogation, Chopey confessed to his involvement in the attack. He will be produced before the local magistrate here and the NIA will secure transit remand for producing him before the NIA Special Judge in Dimapur in the coming days, said the police.
He was a part of four-member team which carried out the attack with AK-47s and pistols on an unarmed group of Assam Rifles personnel at a bus stop in Kohima.
The Centre had entrusted the investigation of the case to the NIA on May 18, 2015. Subsequently, the NIA had arrested two hard core NSCN (K) cadres Khekaho Rochill (self- styled finance secretary) and Kisheto Ayem (self styled major, Town Commander of Kohima) and they have been chargesheeted by the NIA on November 23, 2015 in the case along with Ranjit Thapa, who was the driver of the car, used in the attack.
NIA investigators have been closely tracking the group of four absconding accused involved in the shootout and based on specific inputs, Atoshe was tracked to a location near MG Road in Bangalore where he had been hiding using a false identity and working at local lodge with the assistance of his relatives.
Published 25 December 2015, 21:20 IST