Itanagar: A covert arms trafficking network believed to be connected to the banned Nationalist Socialist Council for Taniland (NSCT) and its militant wing, the United Tani Army (UTA), has been reportedly exposed by the Itanagar police sparking alarm over growing militant footprints in the region.
The crackdown has led to the arrest of four key suspects and the seizure of a cache of foreign-made firearms, ammunition, crucial digital evidence and over Rs 4 lakh in unaccounted cash—signaling a dangerous nexus of militancy and illegal arms trade operating in the region.
Videos that raised alarm: According to police sources, the investigation began after police took suo moto cognizance of videos released by Anthony Doke, a self-styled chairman of UTA in December 2024. The footage, circulated through the local media in December, showed multiple training camps linked to the militant outfit. Authorities initiated discreet inquiries based on the intelligence inputs received.
Case registered against UTA leadership: On January 8, an FIR was lodged against Doke and his associates, alleging attempts to wage war against the Government of India. The NSCT-UTA group was said to be operating from forest hideouts in Manipur and Myanmar while issuing threats to individuals, including local leaders.
As police got deeper into the case, two men — Tana Hasi and Techi Bidu — were soon chargesheeted. Hasi was caught with a foreign-made pistol and both were accused of recruiting around six youths into UTA training camps.
“Two of those recruits were later rescued by police,” the source said.
Arms deal in Nirjuli: Investigators found that in January, a man named Tapa Nungnu of Lekhi Village in Nirjuli had allegedly purchased a foreign-made pistol and 32 live rounds from one Biro Gumja Tamin (50), a suspected overground worker for NSCT/UTA.
Key arrest made: The breakthrough came on April 30 when the Capital police arrested Tamin, a resident of Jullang, Itanagar. “Tamin, previously involved in extortion and militant financing, was identified as a central figure in the arms network. He sourced firearms from NSCN (KYA) operatives and smuggled them into Arunachal Pradesh for local distribution.,” the source said.
Tamin allegedly also extorted money from contractors of the Tani community executing work in the Tirap, Longding, and Changlang districts —and acted as a financier for UTA operations.
“Chats retrieved from his phone confirmed his active communication with Doke and his involvement in arranging threats against rival contractors using NSCN operatives. Officials believe Tamin was instrumental in efforts to expand UTA’s base and revive NSCN (KYA)’s influence in the region,” the source said.
Raids and recoveries begin: Based on Tamin’s confession, police raided a house in Lekhi Village on May 2 and seized a foreign-made pistol marked “Made in Australia”, 32 rounds of live ammunition and ₹4 lakh in cash from Tapa Nungnu.
Nungnu was arrested the same day and accused of redistributing the illegal weapon.
Another weapon traced: On May 3, police formally filed a fresh FIR taking suo moto cognizance of the larger trafficking network. That same day, another illegal firearm was recovered from one more individual, who admitted to buying the pistol from Tamin for Rs 3 lakh.
With these developments, the total seizures now stand at four foreign-made pistols, ammunition, cash, and substantial digital evidence, including WhatsApp chats and video documentation.
Wider security concerns and legal action: The case has been registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Arms Act and the Itanagar SDPO continues to lead the investigation.
Authorities also confirmed that at least four girls from the Tani community have been recruited into the UTA, highlighting a disturbing trend in the outfit’s tactics.
More arrests and recoveries are expected in the coming days as the probe continues.
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