Moktowa, Feb. 13 -- Acting on specific intelligence inputs regarding the presence of a hardcore ANE in the Moktowa area, the Khonsa Battalion of Assam Rifles launched a focused operation on Tuesday.

Through sustained persuasion and coordinated efforts, security forces successfully motivated the individual to abandon the path of violence and reintegrate into the mainstream, according to officials. The ANE surrendered at the Battalion Headquarters in Khonsa.

The surrendered individual has been identified as Wangkhu Lowang, a self-styled Lieutenant of NSCN-K (Khango Konyak), aged 32 years, a resident of Village Moktowa, Dadam, District Tirap.

During the surrender, Lowang deposited one 7.65 mm pistol with a magazine along with six live rou...