Chumoukedima, Nagaland, April 17 (HBTV): Armed NSCN militants have allegedly abducted a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member on the morning of April 17 in Arunachal Pradesh.       

The interplay of militancy and elections continues to be a common feature for regional politicking in India’s northeast region.   

Even as the country readies to go to the Lok Sabha elections, news agencies reported that a Gram Panchayat chairman was abducted by an armed militant group.

According to available information, the kidnapped person has been identified as one Sangam Wangsu, a 50-year-old BJP member. He was kidnapped from his residence at gunpoint, news agencies reported.    

Further, news agencies reported that the kidnapping came hours after militant faction NSCN-KYA allegedly threatened voters to support a National People’s Party (NPP) candidate for the forthcoming elections.

The militants are allegedly intimidating locals to vote for one Thangwang Wangham, said to be the candidate of the NPP.

Reports say that leaflets bearing the threats are being distributed in villages in the constituency.  

Armed militants allegedly linked to the NSCN-KYA have also been sighted in villages including Niuasa, Longkhaw, Mintong, and Longphong in the constituency, reports said.