NIA ARRESTS THREE NAGALAND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

The NIA has arrested three senior Nagaland government officials in connection with its probe into alleged funding of terror groups such as the NSCN-K by defrauding the state exchequer. Director of the Directorate of Agriculture G Ikuto Zhimomi, Executive Engineer in the Directorate of Rural Development Ketouzo Peseyie and Divisional Accounts Officer of the Directorate of Urban Development Sangtemchuba have been arrested from Dimapur. The three officers were posted in Kohima.

The case pertains to allegations of large scale extortions and illegal tax collections on behalf of the banned terrorist organisation National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) from various government organisations and others in Dimapur and Kohima. The NIA said this illegal activity was being carried out under the directions of the self-styled Brigadier Isac Sumi of NSCN-K and other senior cadres of the outfit. These officials, in their official capacity provided substantial amount to NSCN-K by way of contributing government funds to the banned outfit, thereby supporting it in its unlawful activities.

The agency had also arrested two NSCN-K cadres in this case earlier. The documents seized from the accused and their interrogation revealed the involvement of the government officials in paying large sums of money to the tune of crores to the various terrorist factions.