IM leader produced before NIA Court
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal
New Delhi, April 10 2013:
Senior NSCN (IM) leader, Anthony Ningkhan Shimray was produced today before the NIA's Special Court in New Delhi on matters relating to his bail plea which has not been taken into consideration till date.
Reportedly Shimray's counsel submitted a written statement from 'political leadership' in support of his bail plea in the Court today.
The NIA Court has fixed the next hearing on May 14 .
Anthony Ningkhan Shimray, Foreign Affairs Chief of the NSCN (IM), was lodged in Tihar Jail, Delhi, after he was arrested on September 27, 2010 from Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu.
He was enroute to New Delhi from Bangkok to attend the peace talks between Government of India and NSCN-IM.
Naga frontal organisations had staged and organised numerous rallies and protests against his arrest besides demanding his unconditional release at various places in Naga inhabited areas of the NE, especially in Manipur.
It maybe recalled that Shimray was charge-sheeted under case 120 B, 122 of the IPC and 18 of UPA on the charge that he was involved in a conspiracy to procure a huge consignment of arms and ammunition from foreign countries to be used for committing terrorist activities and wage war against the Government of India.
During a brief meeting inside the lock-up in the Court premises, Shimray, accompanied by his wife and friends, said that the Court had stated that his case is a matter of "political issue" .
He also revealed that he had been threatened and interrogated when he was arrested and brought to a secluded place somewhere in the border area of Patna.
He was kept there for about 2 months.
The interrogation was jointly conducted by Indian and Nepal intelligence agencies.
A visibly disturbed Shimray reiterated that he had been part of the ongoing Peace talks, attending several meetings between the NSCN ( IM) and GoI.
"Can a man who comes for peace be detained (arrested) ?" he categorically asked, adding, "This is sending a wrong message" .
"If I am not for peace I would not have gone to Bangkok and for peace talks," said Shimray.
Shimray also wondered why he was victimised against such backdrop.
While dismissing reply to queries on whether he would seek 'political intervention' considering the Court statement that the case is a Political matter, Shimray reasserted that he stands for peace.
"We need peace in Northeast" while cautioning "Can we trust India?" .