ITANAGAR, Dec 4: The National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Khaplang’s Yung Aung faction (NSCN-K-YA) has issued an extortion notice demanding Rs 20 lakh from Oil India Limited (OIL), an official confirmed on Tuesday. The notice, signed by the self-styled Major of the NSCN-K-YA faction, Tha Aung, was sent to OIL’s office in Manabhum, located in Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
The militant group has given OIL a deadline of December 10 to pay the extortion amount, warning that the company would be held accountable for any delays. OIL spokesperson Prankush M. Buzarbaruah confirmed receiving the notice and stated that the company has taken the matter seriously. He added that security has been increased at the operational site in Arunachal Pradesh, and the company has been in contact with the state government about the situation. Despite the threat, OIL operations are continuing at the Manabhum reserve forest, which spans the Changlang and Namsai districts.
The NSCN-K-YA is a faction that has not signed a ceasefire agreement with the Indian government. In contrast, the Centre has signed ceasefire agreements with eight Naga groups, including the Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN (NSCN-IM). The government has engaged in multiple rounds of talks over the decades-old Naga political issue, with the NSCN-IM maintaining its demands for a separate flag, constitution, and territorial integration of Naga areas across four northeastern states and Myanmar. These demands, however, have been repeatedly rejected by the government.
