NEW DELHI, Jan 14 (IANS): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday conducted searches at five places in Manipur and Nagaland in connection with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM) (NSCN-IM) terror funding case, officials said.
The anti-terror agency conducted the raids in Imphal in Manipur and Dimapur in Nagaland at five premises of close associates and relatives of accused Alemla Jamir, wife of Pungting Shirmrang alias James Jamir, a member of the Steering Committee of NSCN (IM), the NIA said.
The searches, conducted at the premises of close associates and relatives of Alemla, have led to recovery of cash of Rs 82.6 lakh, documents of different properties worth Rs 3 crore, incriminating diaries, photographs, digital devices including fifteen smart phones, one hard disk, one pen drive, one memory card and four laptops.
"Certain insurgency and extortion-related literature as well as other incriminating documents have also been recovered during the searches. The searches have also revealed that unaccounted money (in cash) is being used for purchase of properties."
The NIA registered a case on December 20 last year under Unlawful (Activities) Prevention Act that relates to terror funding of NSCN (IM) wherein unaccounted funds were being taken by the cash courier Alemla from Delhi to Nagaland.
Alemla is allegedly working for NSCN (IM) and was arrested on December 18 last year at the domestic airport in Delhi while carrying Rs 72 lakh in cash, said NIA.
On January 10 this year, an NIA Special Court here had extended the judicial custody of accused Alemla for one month in the instant case. "Pungting Shimrang is absconding while further investigation in the case continues," the NIA said.