The National Investigating Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested three Nagaland government officers and a retired official for allegedly diverting government funds to various rebel groups, including the Myanmar-based National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K).
"We have arrested three Nagaland government officers and a retired government official for extortion government funds on behalf of various Naga rebel groups from various government agencies in the state," a top NIA official told IANS.
He said the agency is continuing with their investigation in various government departments and many of them would be arrested for diverting public funds to various Naga rebel groups.
The arrested officials were identified as Additional Director of Agriculture V. Aza, Joint Director, Irrigation Department Hutoi Sema, Superintendent cum cashier of Directorate of Fisheries Kekhriesatuo Tep besides Purakhu Angami, who retired as Director of Tourism.
The arrested persons were produced in court in Special NIA court at Dimapur and remanded to three days police custody for interrogation.
The NIA had registered a case at its Guwahati office following the directive of the Union Home Ministry dated August 17, 2016.
The central investigating agency Ahad registered the case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
During the course of their investigation, the NIA had unearthed the involvement of government officials in funding various Naga rebels from over 12 state government departments.
Earlier, this year the NIA had arrested three government officials - Joint Director/DDO, Department of Social Welfare Tulula Pongen, Joint Director/DDO, Department of Land Resources Alienba Pangjung Jamir and UDA/Cashier, Department of Land Resources K. Lashito Sheqi.
--IANS
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