Anthony Doke

Doke's involvement in regional militancy began with the NLCT, which was formed around 2005.^[7] The group aimed to establish an independent Taniland and was involved in various extortion activities.^[8] By the end of 2010, the NLCT had been largely neutralized by state police forces; many of its operatives were arrested or surrendered, including Doke himself. At its peak, the NLCT had approximately 15 operatives.^[9]

Following the decline of the NLCT, Doke emerged as the leader of the United Tani Army (UTA), an armed group advocating for the rights and autonomy of the Tani people in Arunachal Pradesh.^[10] In recent years, Doke has been vocal in opposing large-scale hydropower projects in the region, demanding that the state government rescind all Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and Agreements (MoAs) signed for such projects.^[11]

In January 2025, Doke alleged that the state police were harassing former NLCT members by linking them to the UTA, despite their having left militancy behind.^[12] He emphasized that the current UTA operatives are fresh recruits and that former NLCT members have started new lives.^[13]

Doke's activities have drawn scrutiny from law enforcement agencies. In an interview, he stated that he would soon present a detailed plan about his organization and its motives. Additionally, an unnamed official disclosed that Doke was based in Myanmar, and that "the camps shown in the videos look likely to be that of the NSCN (K-YA)."^[14]