Another Christmas has passed with no settlement in Nagaland amidst dark clouds of a possible breakdown of negotiations.
Central agencies have raided houses of a top NSCN (IM) leader in connection with ‘terror funding’, by implication blaming the rebel group of being involved in unlawful activities.
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The houses of Alemla Jamir was raided by the NIA last week. It is not clear if anything incriminating was found.
Alemla is the wife of Pungting Shirmrang alias James Jamir who is a member of the Steering Committee of NSCN (IM) and also a relative of Thuingaleng Muivah, General Secretary of NSCN (IM).
On December 20, the premier investigation agency re-registered a case under relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for terror financing of NSCN (IM), said an NIA official.
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Alemla is alleged to be working for NSCN (IM) and was detained at Domestic Airport T-1, New Delhi, with a cash of Rs 72 lakh by the Income Tax officials on December 17, the official said.
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Later, she was arrested by the Special Cell on the same day, he added.
The case relates to the terror funding of NSCN (IM) wherein funds were being taken by cash courier Alemla from Delhi to Nagaland on the instructions of Pakhahao Ikres Muivah, the wife of Thuingaleng Muivah.
The searches carried out at the houses of Alemla led to the recovery of four bulletproof jackets, 28 prohibited ammunition of 7.62, 9MM and 12 bore, one drone along with batteries.
Seven bottles of expensive foreign liquor, uniforms of Naga Army, pistol holsters, magazine pouches, prohibited wildlife articles, incriminating diaries were also recovered from Alemla’s houses.
“Other stuff recovered include photographs, digital devices including Chinese smartphones, video recorder, spycam, hard disk, pen drives, memory cards, recorded audio cassettes and a laptop,” the NIA official said.
Certain incriminating documents and insurgency-related literature have also been recovered during the searches, the official added.
On Monday, a special NIA Court sent Alemla to five days’ police custody, he said.
Analysts say the Centre is trying to create huge pressure on NSCN (IM) because the rebel group is not relenting on its demands for a separate flag and a separate Constitution for Nagas.
Alemla has perhaps been targetted because her husband Pungting is said to have reached China with many fighters to seek support from the neighbouring country if negotiations with the Indian government fails.