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Centre seeks details from Nepal, Singapore

By R Dutta Choudhury

GUWAHATI, Oct 31 � The Centre has requested the Governments of Nepal and Singapore to investigate about the assets acquired by Niranjan Hojai, the commander of militant outfit DHD(J) in those countries with money extorted in Assam. The request was made following an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Official sources told The Assam Tribune that on the basis of the report of the ED, the Court of the Special Judge, Assam, issued a letter of request and has been sent to Nepal and Singapore by the Ministry of External Affairs. As per law, after thorough probe, the Governments of Nepal and Singapore would send detailed reports to the Government of India and if the allegations of the militant leader acquiring properties in those countries are found to be correct, would be attached, sources added.

Sources revealed that the request letter mentioned about the lists of properties of the militant leader, the names of the persons to be questioned to get the details and the documents that are to be seized.

According to records gathered by the Government agencies, Niranjan Hojai, who had strong network and bases in Nepal, managed to acquire landed properties including plots of land in Nepal. He also owned a travel agency and managed to invest in private limited companies.

Hojai was using a Nepali passport in the name of Nirmal Rai and the properties were obtained under that name. In fact, Hojai also frequently travelled to different countries with that passport, which was seized after he was arrested in Nepal.

On the properties of the militant leader in Singapore, sources said that according to information available, he had bank accounts and investments in limited companies in that country. However, the details of it would be known only after the Government of India receives the investigation report from the Government of Singapore.

Sources revealed that the ED registered the case against Hojai on the basis of the cases registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after two persons were arrested with Rs one crore in Assam-Meghalaya border area. During the course of the investigation, the Government agencies came to know that the militant outfit was also involved in hawala transfer of funds so that it can be converted into US Dollars for procurement of weapons.

Extortion was the main source of income for the militant group and Niranjan Hojai admitted during questioning by the Government agencies that the biggest single transaction was the Rs 4.50 crore that they received after kidnapping a prominent businessman. Of the Rs one crore recovered by police, Rs 30 lakh was provided by Social Welfare Department officer RH Khan, the prime accused in the financial scam in North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council.

Meanwhile, the ED has registered a separate case against RH Khan after the recovery of Rs 13.50 crore from the residence of one of the close relatives of Khan by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating into nine cases of financial scams in NC Hills.

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