The two-day remand of three Nagaland government officials, who were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Guwahati on March 25, ended on Tuesday.
The three officials were taken into custody by the NIA from here for allegedly paying huge amount of money to the banned NSCN (K) and other Naga underground groups such as NSCN (R), FGN, NNC and others within the period from 2012 to 2016 in Dimapur and Kohima areas. After their arrest on March 25, they were produced before the Special NIA court in Dimapur on Monday which sent to two-day NIA remand, sources said.
What transpired during their interrogation could not be known.
The arrested officials are Director of Agriculture, Kohima, G Ikuto Zhimomi, Executive Engineer of Directorate of Rural Development, Kohima, Ketouzo Peseyie and Divisional Accounts Officer of Directorate of Urban Development, Kohima, Sangtemchuba.
The NIA alleged the officials in their official capacity provided substantial amount of money to NSCN (K) by way of contributing government funds, thereby supporting it in furtherance of its unlawful activities.
It said the three government officers were arrested on the basis of their alleged involvement in paying huge amount of money to various Naga underground factions. The allegations were revealed during the scrutiny of the official documents, including demand letters and payment receipts, seized during the search operation carried out by NIA in 13 government offices on January 1, 2017, an NIA release said on March 25.
The NIA further said two active NSCN (K) cadres, S Khetoshe Sumi, ‘SS’ finance-in-charge of Kohima and Dimapur areas and Victo Swu were arrested in the case earlier. The documents seized from the accused and their interrogation revealed the involvement of the three government officers in paying large sum of money to the tune of crores to various underground factions.
The NIA said the NSCN (K) cadres in Dimapur and Kohima areas carried out large-scale extortions and illegal tax collections under the direction of self-styled ‘Brig’ Isac Sumi (A-3) of NSCN (K) and other senior leaders.
The investigating agency also issued two summons to former Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang asking him to appear in its office in New Delhi earlier in connection with alleged “tax collection” and “extortion” from state government departments by banned Naga insurgent groups.