Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 25
In the 2018 Nagaland Legislative Assembly elections, three candidates had pending criminal cases making up around 3 percent of the total 196 candidates, who were in the fray. The figure increased to 7 or 4 percent in the 2023 Assembly elections.
Election norms require intending candidates to declare criminal antecedents, if any, in their nomination submissions to the Returning Officer and make the information public. One out of the 3 candidates, who had declared pending criminal cases in 2018, is also in the 2023 list.
As per the nomination affidavits for the 2023 elections, which are available in the public domain, 2 from the NDPP, 1 each from the NPF, Congress, RPP and BJP alongwith 1 Independent have pending criminal charges against them.
The NDPP candidates include G Ikuto Zhimomi (NDPP) from the 34 Aghunato Assembly seat and Neiba Kronu (NDPP) from the 16 Pfutsero Assembly seat. Ikuto is facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and alleged extortion in a case investigated by the NIA, dating to 2016. Neiba has 3 cases pending pertaining to “allegation of misappropriation of government fund” filed by the CBI under the Prevention of Corruption Act in 2007. The entry in his affidavit stated that he was acquitted in the case by a Special CBI Court in December 2019, which was challenged by the investigation agency in the Kohima Bench, Gauhati High Court.
The case against Vikato Aye (NPF) from 4 Ghaspani-I pertains to “criminal rioting” dating to March 2015. His case is pending at a District Court.
The case against T Thomas Konyak (INC) dates to 2013 pertaining to “Cheating, dishonest or fraudulent execution of false statement. Making false document and common intention” registered at East Police Station, Dimapur.
The case against Joel Naga (RPP) relates to “Trespassing” registered at the Sub-urban Police Station in 2016.
The case against A Pangjung Jamir (BJP) pertains to a 2016 case investigated by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) and Arms Acts.
Independent candidate V Phushika Aomi has 3 cases relating to rioting, criminal conspiracy and mob rioting dating to 2015.
The 2013 elections saw 3 candidates, out of 187, with pending criminal cases against them. In 2008, the figure was 4 out of 218 candidates.
