NIA arrests Nagaland State Govt officers for funding banned org

Files chargesheet in two NSCN (K) cases  

New Delhi, April 26 (MExN): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has stepped up its activities against the NSCN (K) that the Government of India considers a banned outfit.  

The NIA, on Wednesday, arrested three Nagaland State Government officers for providing substantial amounts of money to National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN (K)) by contributing government funds to them in official capacity.  

The NIA officials arrested Joint Director/DDO, Department of Social Welfare, Joint Director/DDO, Department of Land Resources and UDA/Cashier, Department of Land Resources, in connection with the alleged charges of large scale extortion and illegal tax collection on behalf of the banned organisation NSCN (K) from various government organizations and others by the cadres of NSCN (K) in Dimapur and Kohima areas.  

The accused in their official capacity provided substantial amount to NSCN (K) by way of contributing government funds to the banned outfit, thereby supporting NSCN (K) in furtherance of its unlawful activities.  

The government officers were arrested on the basis of their alleged involvement in paying huge amount of money to various factions such as NSCN (K), NSCN (R), FGN, NNC and others which was revealed during the scrutiny of the documents including demand letters and payment receipts which were seized during the search operation carried out by the NIA.  

The accused were produced in a Special NIA Court, Dimapur earlier today for police remand.  

The court granted five days police remand for two while one was sent to hospital for treatment after being reported sick.  

Chargesheet in NSCN (K) cases

Meanwhile, the NIA Guwahati, on April 25, also filed a Charge Sheet under section 173(8) CrPC before the Special NIA Court, Dimapur, against two accused NSCN (K) cadres namely one Col Akaho and Col Aheto “of NSCN/GPRN” under various Arms Act and other relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.  

The NIA, in a press release, informed that the case was initially registered at Zunheboto Police Station, Nagaland on June 28, 2012 on the compliant of the then Superintendent of Police, Zunheboto District, Nagaland.  

“It was alleged in the complaint that, Armed Branch Sub Inspector (ABSI) and staff of Record Officer (Clothing) establishment of DEF Zunheboto had deliberately misappropriated the large quantity of arms and ammunition from the DEF Kote,” it said. Further investigation was carried out by the Agency following the direction of an MHA order.  

The release further maintained that the NIA has collected sufficient evidences against the accused persons during the further course of investigation and identified the “accused persons belonging to NSCN (K) and NSCN/GPRN of Nagaland.”  

However, the Agency said that “the accused are absconding and are yet to be apprehended.”  

The main accused ABSI has already expired on November 12, 2013 and the NIA Special Court has issued Non-Bailable Warrants against the two charge sheeted absconding accused, it added. With inputs from ANI