A joint team of the Assam Rifles and the Indian Army destroyed three camps of the largest Naga rebel group during an operation in Motongsa village of Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday, News18 reported. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak Muivah) used the camps for “planning and logistics purpose”, according to a defence spokesperson.

The security forces launched the operation on the basis of intelligence information about the presence of NSCN(IM) cadre in and around Motongsa in Changlang district, “trying to terrorise locals and attempting extortion”, said Defence Public Relations Officer Colonel Chiranjeet Konwer.

“During search of the thickly-vegetated area, the party located and destroyed three camps and a logistics base of the NSCN(IM),” he said. The outfit used the camps to increase its influence in the area, Assam Rifles said.

Security forces are conducting search operations to find the militants who managed to escape.