Moving swiftly in its first case, the National Investigation Agency has filed a chargesheet against 14 people, including politicians and bureaucrats, in connection with the alleged siphoning off developmental funds allotted to North Cachar Hills in Assam in nexus with militants.
The NIA filed the chargesheet in a special court in Guwahati against militant group DHD(J) chief Jewel Garlosa, DHD (J) 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai, Chief Executive Member of NC Hills Autonomous Council Mohit Hojai,Malsawmkimi, Phojendra Hojai, Babul Kemprai, R H Khan, Ahshringdao Warisa, Samir Ahmed, Vanlalchhana, George Lawmthang, Jayanta Kumar Ghosh, Debashis Bhattacharjee and Sandip Ghosh.
The chagesheet was filed on November 17 under various provisions of Indian Penal Code like conspiracy to wage war, waging of war, and sections under amended Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act relating to funding terrorism, harbouring terrorists, terrorist acts. The chargesheet was filed by NIA after getting sanction from the Central government.
Two of the accused persons -- R H Khan, an Assam government official and Mohit Hojai, a politician, had moved the Gauhati High Court for bail which was rejected and they filed Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court. After considering their SLP, the apex court dismissed their petition and rejected their bail on November 19.
NIA had registered its first case against the cadres of Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) otherwise known as 'Black Widow' in June 2009. By the time NIA registered the case, five accused persons were already arrested by Assam Police working with the central agency. The case pertained primarily to terrorist financing.
During investigation, NIA brought out the evidence of alleged siphoning off developmental funds allotted to North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council in consequence of the nexus of terrorists, or DHD(J) group, with the officers of the Council, private persons, politicians and contractors.
NIA has further dug out the evidence showing transfer of huge government funds through illegal channels and conversion of the same into foreign currency which was subsequently used for procurement of arms and ammunition from foreign arms dealers.
Some such arms were recovered by NIA working closely with Mizoram Police. A key arms dealer, the hawala racketeers, the person responsible for conversion of Indian currency to foreign currency were arrested by the NIA from Mizoram, Assam and Kolkata.