NIA arrests 4 govt officials for funding banned Naga outfits

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested four Nagaland government officials for allegedly funding the banned Naga outfits, including the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang (NSCN-K). The move comes three days after the NSCN-K members attacked an Army base in Arunachal Pradesh's Niausa area. However, there was no casualty or damage to the Company Operating Base.

The arrested accused have been identified as ex-director of Directorate of Tourism Tourism Purakhu Angami, Additional Director of Directorate of Agriculture V Aza, Joint Director of Irrigation department Hutoi Sema and Superintendent-cum-cashier of of Directorate of Fisheries Kekhriesatuo Tep.

The NIA officer said all four accused were arrested from Dimapur and they were produced before the special NIA court at Dimapur and taken police custody.

The NIA is probing how crores of rupees have been diverted to the Naga outfits despite centre's efforts to stop such illegal diversion of public funds.

In April, the agency had arrested three officials of Nagaland government in same case where the government officials funded the banned outfit NSCN-K .

They were arrested in connection with the alleged charges of large scale extortion and illegal tax collection on behalf of the NSCN(K) from from Dimapur and Kohima.

The agency is probing the alleged nexus between the Nagaland government officials and the Naga banned groups and diversion of development funds for survival of militants. A case was earlier registered at a police station in Dimapur on August 1, 2016 and the case was later transferred to the NIA.