The Arunachal Pradesh government has suspended military operations against the National Socialist Council of Nagalim militants belonging to the Isaac-Muivah and Khaplang factions.

Dubbed 'Operation Hurricane' it was in progress in state's Tirap district bordering Myanmar.

The erstwhile Congress government of Mukut Mithi had started the operation in June, before his ministry was toppled on August 2.

Chief Minister Gegong Apang, after taking over the reins of the state on August 3 as the head of the United Democratic Front, had promised to withdraw 'Operation Hurricane'. He had also promised to repeal the APCOCA, which provided for capital punishment and imprisonment for life. The act was repealed on August 19 in the state assembly by voice vote.

Official sources said that 'Operation Hurricane' was withdrawn on August 7 by the government.

Apang's UDF ministry is now a Bharatiya Janata Party one with Apang and 32 of his 42 legislators in the 60-member house having joined the saffron party on August 30.

Union Minister of State for Home Swami Chinmayananda had questioned the necessity of the operation during a recent visit to Khonsa, headquarters of the insurgency-hit Tirap district.

The operation had also evoked widespread condemnation from the then opposition political parties, including the state BJP and regional party Arunachal Congress, which had described it as 'vindictive' and 'aimed at harassing political opponents'.

The Mithi government had, however, justified that it was required for the security of the state as decided by the Security Coordination Committee, a constitutional body with the mandate of the Union home ministry.

The state government had deployed over 2,400 police personnel, including the India Reserve Battalion, in Tirap district.