Imphal, September 07, 2010: Enforcement Directorate in the North East region is likely to confiscate property of a cadre of an underground outfit operating in Manipur, which would be the first ever case of such a kind in the state since the extension of Money Laundering Act of the Central government.

The Enforcement Directorate attached the property in the name of the wife of a Prepak cadre, Kangujam Premjit of Khongman Okram Chuthek of Imphal East district.

Premjit, who was arrested by the security forces some years back and has been absconding since his release on bail.

It is not clear whether he is working for any outfit at present.

A plot of land in the name of his wife Elizabeth located at Kwakeithel Bazar, was confiscated by the enforcement directorate.

The market price of the confiscated land is around Rs 12 lakh.

An agency report said that the Enforcement Directorate, North East Region had attached the properties under the provisions of the Money Laundering Act.

It was the first such case of the office of the Enforcement Directorate in the North East and the charge-sheet for the same has already been filed.

The case, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, was registered in September last year and during the course of the investigation it was found that three militants of Manipur-based militant group PREPAK gathered properties in Imphal town from the money collected in the name of the outfit.

The report further said that the underground K Premjit, his wife K Elizabeth and sister Sanajaobi Devi indulged in large-scale extortions from cross-sections of people including Government officers, traders and even common people for the PREPAK to wage a war against the nation.

Though initially cases were registered against them under the provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, because of the fact that the accused were involved in money laundering, a case was registered by the Enforcement Directorate, it added.

Following the filing of the chargesheet of the case, the property has been attached and it is perhaps for the first time in the region that properties gathered by underground with extorted funds have been attached.

Sources said that following the trial of the case, the property is likely to be confiscated by the Government of India.

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