‘Zeliang has no link to terror funding’, NPF rejects report
GUWAHATI: NIA, WHICH SUMMONED ZELIANG’S OSD AND HIS TWO OFFICE EMPLOYEES FOR QUESTIONING LAST MONTH, SUMMONED THE FORMER CM THIS MONTH
Opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) in Nagaland has rubbished reports in a section of media linking former chief minister TR Zeliang with a terror funding case being probed by National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The agency, which had summoned Zeliang’s OSD and two office staff for questioning last month in connection with the case, had summoned the former CM to appear before it for questioning this month.
But Zeliang, who is the leader of opposition in the Nagaland assembly, had expressed inability to appear before the agency so that he can attend the ongoing session of the House.
However, this week several reports appeared in some local and national media outlets stating “NIA had stumbled upon documentary evidence indicating the involvement of Zeliang” in the terror funding case.
In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, NPF termed the reports “highly objectionable” and “nothing but pure exaggeration and dim-witted imagination at its heights”.
“Such news are the brainchild of people with destructive mindset,” it said.
The statement added Zeliang had written to NIA for deferment of the date for his cross examination till the assembly session, which ends on March 26, gets over. The NIA is yet to reply to the request.
The present case deals with alleged extortion from at least 14 government departments by rebel groups like NSCN (Khaplang), NSCN (Isak-Muivah) and Naga National Council.
Last year, the the central investigating agency had arrested seven Nagaland government officials on charges of allegedly diverting money from government coffers to terror outfits.
The NPF and the Bharatiya Janata Party were part of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland coalition from 2003 till the BJP severed ties and joined hands with newly formed Nationalist Democratic Progressive Partry (NDPP) ahead of last month’s assembly polls.
Zeliang’s OSD and the two officers were summoned for questioning days prior to the polling on February 27.
Though NPF emerged as the single largest party in the 60-member assembly with 26 seats, the NDPP-BJP alliance, which secured 28 seats in total, was able to form the government with help of smaller parties. The summons to Zeliang was issued eight days after the poll results were announced.