NIA SUMMONS FORMER CM OF NAGALAND IN EXTORTION CASE

GUWAHATI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has summoned former Nagaland chief minister TR Zeliang to Delhi on March 13 to join its probe into the alleged extortion and funding of the banned National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), the anti-talk faction of the extremist outfit.

However, Zeliang’s close aide, Azeu Namcyn Hau, calling the move a “political vendetta”, said the investigation agency has been told that Zeliang will not be able to travel on Tuesday as the newly elected Assembly begins its session on that day.

NIA officials in Guwahati said they not heard anything from Zeliang yet. They also did not share details on why the summonses were sent now.

“The timing of the summons is suspect,” Hau said. Zeliang refused to comment.

The NIA had registered a case in August 2016 to probe extortion activities by NSCN(K) and arrested four government officials in 2017 in connection with the case. The agency, in its charge sheet in 2017, claimed it had recovered incriminating documents which proved the involvement of NSCN(K) members in extortion activities in connivance with government officials. It had established that Isak Sumi, the self-styled finance administrator of the outfit, had ordered illegal “tax” collection for the outfit.

Victor Swu, another member of the outfit, was arrested for his involvement in extortion activities, but was later bailed out.