Arms trafficking to Manipur: NSCN-IM pledges punishment to offending cadre ::: Nagaland DGP admits involvement of a cop

(Involvement of a NSCN-IM senior functionary and a Nagaland police personnel show things are moving at important stages !)

The message perhaps also is once he wants it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi can make things move pretty fast !  In a statement NSCN-IM said, it considers 'illegal arms and ammunition business as one of the highest crimes"; and hence it says punishment will be served to the offender.

In a significant development, Nagaland DGP Rupin Sharma admitted the involvement of a uniformed police officer in drugs and illegal weapons trafficking from Nagaland to Manipur. He said the accused officer operated on his own and did not have any accomplice. 

In Manipur, the Centre has decided to refer the case of sexual assault on two women who were paraded by a mob to the CBI. Sources disclosed here that the Union Home Ministry also wants that the trial of the 'viral video case' be taken up outside Manipur preferably in a court in Assam.

Nagaland DGP Rupin 

Sources claimed state and central security personnel have created a 'buffer zone' between the Meitei-dominated valley areas and the Kuki-dominated hill areas. At least 35000 security personnel from the Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Central Armed Police Forces including Assam Rifles have been deployed," the source said.

Senior Corps Commanders are coordinating the security measures and strict vigilance in maintained along the Myanmar international border.

In a breakthrough, sources say the mobile phone from which the video was shot has been recovered and the individual concerned "who shot the video has been arrested". The central government representatives at various levels formal and informal have held groundbreaking parleys with 'members' of the warring Kuki and Meitei communities.

Sources also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been 'personally' monitoring all related issues and developments in the ethnic-strife' hit BJP-ruled Manipur where there is persistent demand from many quarters for replacement of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has already moved a No Confidence Motion against the Modi government.

“We have established the money trail and for whom the ammunition was  meant for. It was meant to be delivered to someone in Manipur. We are not sure from where it could have gone to those people, but all those involved have been arrested,” the Nagaland DGP disclosed.

The arrest of NSCN(IM) Deputy Kilonser while smuggling ammunition to Manipur is another major development. 

An inspector of Nagaland police and five others, including a woman and the NSCN-IM functionary were arrested for trying to sell ammunition from the central store of Nagaland police.  

The main accused has been found to be the police inspector Michael Yanthan and he has confessed to his crime in the stealing and selling of the ammunition, the Dimapur commissioner of police, Kevithuto Sophie said. 

It is, however, yet to be known to whom the ammunition was being sold, he said. The police operation against the stealing of ammunition started on July 9 after it was detected during stock verification.

The police put up checkpoints in different locations on NH 29 but drew a blank on the first day. On July 10 the police intercepted a car in the 6th Mile area in Chumukedima and upon inspection large quantities of ammunition were found concealed in three rice bags, Sophie said. 

Two persons were arrested and during interrogation, they confessed that the consignments were collected from the house of the widow of a dead NSCN(IM) functionary, he said. 

The woman too was arrested and she confessed that the consignments were picked from one deputy kilonser (minister) of the Naga separatist group, he said. 

On being intensively interrogated, the deputy kilonser told the police that he had bought the ammunition from a Yanthan, an in-charge of the arms and ammunition branch of the police central store. 

The NSCN leader was then arrested. Inspector Yanthan confessed that he was paid Rs 4.25 lakh by one person to purchase about 1500 rounds of SLR ammunition and 1000 rounds of 5.56 mm calibre bullets of INSAS rifles.

Another person was subsequently arrested, he said. The special investigation team has been formed to probe the matter and others involved in it, the police said. 

Once he wants, Namo may make things pretty fast !

Asked how police personnel could be trusted when they are indulging in such crimes, the Nagaland top cop remarked that the policemen too were humans and could commit such acts, like any other individual.

“But, rest assured. Whoever is committing such a crime will be taken to task. There will be no prejudice or favouritism towards anyone,” he said.

The DGP said the department had written to the state government for initiating disciplinary action against the police officer and also placing him under suspension.

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