In an exclusive phone recording, an NSCN (IM) cadre was heard to be issuing a threat to a National People's Party (NPP) worker before the outfit ambushed Tirong Aboh and his supporters.
The conversation, which was mainly in Nagamese and broken Assamese language, reportedly took place before Arunachal Pradesh assembly elections.
The Assembly polls were held on April 11 earlier this year.
The phone call was allegedly made to Noknyiam Nokbi, an active National People's Party (NPP) worker from Laho village, by an unknown person who claimed to be an NSCN(IM) leader.
In the conversation, the suspected NSCN(IM) leader was heard pressurising Nokbi not to lead or organise any meeting where they (slain Khonsa West MLA Tirong Aboh and supporters) speak against NSCN (IM).
The threat call to Nokbi was allegedly made in the latter part of March.
Incidentally, a few days later, on March 29, two NPP workers were attacked by suspected NSCN (IM) militants at Kheti village in Tirap district.
In the conversation, the NSCN (IM) cadre was heard to be repeatedly taking the name of slain MLA Tirong Aboh.
Apart from Aboh, the NSCN (IM) cadre was also heard taking Jalin Hakhun- a close associate of the slain MLA.
Apart from Aboh, the NSCN (IM) cadre was also heard taking Jalin Hakhun- a close associate of the slain MLA.
Hakhun was also killed along with Aboh.
It may be mentioned here that MLA Tirong Aboh and 10 others were killed in an ambush in Arunachal Pradesh's Tirap district on May 21.
Meanwhile, Nokbi and Wangsi Atoa- an active NPP worker- are being interrogated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) along with the two survivors Nyajut Hakhun (maid) and Nokliam Tekwa (PSO).
Sources informed that Nokbi is being questioned over the fact that he was singled out, among the hordes of NPP workers, to be called by the NSCN(IM) leader on phone.
The NIA reportedly is of the suspicion that the phone call was made by someone known to Nokbi, added the source.
It is worth mentioning here that Nokbi had casually forwarded the call recording to Wangsi Atoa.