NIA files chargesheet in extortion case of NSCN (IM) involving over Rs 1.5 Cr

The NIA filed a chargesheet on Tuesday against five members including a self-styled colonel and his wife of the NSCN (IM), a major insurgent group in the northeast, in an

The NIA filed a chargesheet on Tuesday against five members including a self-styled colonel and his wife of the NSCN (IM), a major insurgent group in the northeast, in an extortion case in Nagaland involving an amount of over Rs 1.5 crore, an official said.

The chargesheet against the five accused was filed before a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Nagaland”s Dimapur under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosive Substances Act, the Arms Act, the Nagaland Security Regulation (NSR), the Passport Act and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act.

A self-styled colonel of the NSCN(IM), Rayilung Nsarangbe, a self-styled private of the outfit, Lamci Iralu, Zingshongam Muinao, Ruth Chawang and Ramningle Pame have been named in the chargesheet, an NIA spokesperson said.

The case relates to the recovery of Rs 1,58,72,800 along with illegal arms, ammunition, explosives and incriminating documents from the residential premises of Nsarangbe and his wife Chawang, the official said.

The investigation has found a well-organised extortion racket of the NSCN(IM) involving criminal intimidation of various companies undertaking road construction projects in Manipur, he added.

Government funds meant for development works were illegally diverted and collected by the NSCN(IM) operatives through extortion by committing a terrorist act punishable under the UAPA, according to the official.

The NSCN(IM) has also laundered the proceeds of terrorism into various financial instruments and real estate investments in the process of layering of the extorted funds, he said.

Pame is an elected member of the Autonomous Council of District Tamenglong, Manipur and has been assisting the NSCN(IM) in the collection of the extortion amounts demanded by the outfit, the official said, adding that further investigation in the case is underway. PTI

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