NIA claims to possess documentary evidence which shows Zeliang’s ‘direct involvement’
Dimapur, March 19 (EMN): In a fresh twist to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into an alleged case of ‘terror funding’ in Nagaland, the NIA is reported to have stumbled upon ‘documentary evidence’ that indicates ‘direct involvement’ of former chief minister TR Zeliang.
The Asian Age on Monday reported that the NIA was in possession of ‘glaring evidence’ indicating the involvement of Zeliang. This comes a day after reports emerged that the former chief minister had written to the NIA denying involvement in the case.
The investigation pertains to alleged payments made to armed Naga groups including the banned NSCN (K) by at least 14 departments of the government of Nagaland since 2016. On January 18 2017, the NIA had searched the offices of various government departments in Nagaland and seized receipts of payments made to the tune of INR 2 cr., according to reports.
Zeliang had written to the NIA stating that he has nothing to do with the alleged siphoning of government funds to the various outfits. Sources close to Zeliang had told a national newspaper that there was no question of the former chief minister appearing before NIA since ‘there is no proof whatsoever that he sponsored or supported or extended support or assisted or aided NSCN (K)’.
However, The Asian Age on Monday reported ‘security sources’ as saying that Zeliang will have to appear for cross-examination. “Pointing out that agency was in possession of glaring evidence indicating his direct involvement in siphoning of government funds and facilitating it to National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K), security sources said that Mr Zeliang has sent a written reply through his advocate to NIA but it was not enough,” the report read.
NIA sleuths have recovered documents signed by Zeliang ‘to facilitate fund for NSCN (K)’, according to the news report. “Sources, however, claimed that NIA investigation revealed that the government funds were released on written approval of then chief minister,” it further read.
Initially, the NIA had summoned Zeliang to its New Delhi office on March 13. After Zeliang expressed inability to appear before the agency on said day, the NIA changed the date to March 17.
In February, the NIA had summoned three officials from the chief minister’s office to Guwahati in connection with the same case. Two days before the election results were announced, one of these officers was summoned to New Delhi again, the report stated.
