[2] Khonsa West MLA Tirong Aboh, who lost his life in the ambush, had contested and won the assembly elections earlier in the year as a National People's Party (NPP) candidate.
[4] According to a senior official, an unidentified person claiming to be an NSCN-IM leader made a phone call to NPP worker, Noknyiam Nokbi, from Khonsa, in late March 2019.
In the recorded conversation, the militant can be heard issuing threats to the NPP worker, warning him to refrain from making statements against the NSCN (IM) or face severe consequences.
[citation needed] The suspected NSCN (IM) leader instructed Nokbi not to organize or participate in any meetings where the late Khonsa West MLA Aboh or his supporters would speak against the insurgent outfit.
Hakhun, the president of the Dadam Area Youth Association (DAYA), had been actively campaigning for Aboh prior to the assembly election in the state.
[4] Later, two NPP workers were targeted by suspected NSCN (IM) militants in an attack at Kheti village in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh.
The assault, which took place a few days after the alleged threat call in late March, resulted in the death of NPP worker Jaley Anna.
[4][5] NPP workers Noknyiam Nokbi and Wangsi Atoa, along with survivors Nyajut Hakhun and Nokliam Tekwa, went under interrogation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in relation to both this and event as well as the aforementioned phone call.
[1] In response to the attack, the Indian Army initiated an extensive search operation across the jungles of Tirap, Longding, and Changlang Districts to apprehend the assailants.
The operation was conducted in close coordination with the police, local administration, and intelligence agencies, aiming to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the incident.
Posters allegedly released by the NIA revealed the names of additional accused involved in the ambush that resulted in the death of Khonsa West MLA Tirong Aboh, his son, and ten others on 21 May 2019.
[2][7] A few days later, the NIA made a major breakthrough in the case by arresting Yangte Josaham, a self-styled lieutenant of NSCN-IM, and the area commander of the outfit in Arunachal Pradesh's Longding district, from Dimapur, Nagaland, on 16 August 2019.
Another cash reward of Rs 2 lakhs has been announced for any information leading to the arrest of James Kiwang, who was suspected to be involved in the planning of the attack.
Lt Col Apem, who served as a commander of the Samsong battalion in Tizit, Nagaland, is also sought by the NIA, with a cash reward of Rs 3 lakhs for any information leading to his arrest.
[1] In response to the ambush, a candlelight vigil was organized by the Arunachal Civil Society (ACS) in Itanagar, the state capital, to express solidarity with the bereaved family members of Khonsa West MLA Tirong Aboh and the ten others who lost their lives.