The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday filed chargesheet before the NIA Special Court in Nagaland against five persons in an extortion case.
NIA officials said the chargesheeted accused are SS Col. (NSCN-IM) Rayilung Nsarangbe alias Pela alias Pela Nsa Zeme; SS Pvt (NSCN-IM) LamciIralu alias KeyilamcilungIralu alias Lamci alias Lamcilung; Zingshongam Muinao alias Zingsho; Ruth Chawang alias Ruth Zeliang alias Rago Chawang and Ramningle Pame alias Ramning.
The case is related to the recovery of Rs 1,58,72,800 along with illegal arms, ammunition, explosives and incriminating documents from the residential premises of SS Col. Rayilung Nsarangbe of NSCN(IM) and his wife Ruth Chawang.
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“The investigation of the case has revealed well organized extortion racket by NSCN(IM) involving criminal intimidation of various companies undertaking road construction projects in Manipur,” officials said.
“The developmental funds of the government have been illegally diverted in an organised manner and collected by NSCN(IM) operatives through extortion by committing a terrorist act punishable under UA(P) Act,” officials added.
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“Investigation further revealed that NSCN (IM) also laundered the proceeds of terrorism into various financial instruments and real estate investments in the process of layering of the extorted fund,” NIA said.
Accused Ramningle Pame is an elected member of Autonomous Council of District Taemnglong, Manipur and has been assisting NSCN(IM) in collection of the extortion amount demanded by them.