NIA on the trail of financial dealings of UGs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 16, 2011: With the Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram, out to show the tougher side of his persona, especially after the arrest of UNLF Chairman RK Meghen from Bangladesh on September 29 last year, sleuths of the National Investigation Agency have started investigating the fund flow of militant outfits operating in the State.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, a reliable source said that the NIA team is here primarily to study the monetary transactions, bank accounts, mony transfers through internet banking, credit cards etc used outside Manipur by militants.

The NIA team led by an officer of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police landed at Tulihal about two/three weeks back, said the source and added that utmost secrecy is being maintained.

The latest initiative taken up by the Union Home Ministry comes in the wake of the arrest of the Chairman of the UNLF on September 29 last year.

Presently under the custody of the NIA, the rebel leader has been produced before the Special Court of the NIA three times at Guwahati.

The team, during their stay here will also study the law and order situation.

As part of their mission to check the fund flow of militant outfits, all Chief Engineers of the Engineering Departments of PWD PHED, IFCD, Electricity Department and Minor Irrigation were subjected to a serious of questions from the NIA sleuths today.

Other than questioning the ultilisation of funds released by the Centre as well as from its Budget, the team also studied the patterns and practices of granting contract works and supply assignments as well.

This was primarily done to study whether any agents or fronts of the militant outfits are engaged in contract work and siphoning off the money or not, said the source further.

The visit as well as the exercise taken up by the NIA sleuths are a closely guarded secret, and a little bit of nosing around by The Sangai Express did not evoke any positive response or received any officially confirmed report.

From the little inputs we have received, it is clear that the NIA does not want its operations or mission to go public.

When certain bank branches were contacted, to inquire whether the NIA team had checked their records as well as the names of the account holders, all denied having ever been approached by the NIA in this regard.

The major priority of Delhi has been to block, freeze and unearth the process of developmental funds landing in the hands of the underground outfits.

Other than levying what the militants call "taxes", big business houses, officers and the moneyed class are their prime targets to finance their movement, which include purchasing arms and ammunition.

Bagging contract works and supply orders, by their front men, is also another means of financing their armed movement, said the source.

Falling in line with the steps taken up by the NIA in Manipur, the Department of Telecommunications has also instructed all service providers in the State to inform all their pre-paid clients to submit four fresh photos along with new/latest documents by January 19, this year.

The directives of DOT made it clear that the connection of any defaulters will be disconnected after the deadline lapses.

Monetary demands, threatening calls through the mobile phones, SMS to bring anyone down to their knees etc have been some of the tactics employed by the militants who are in possession of numerous mobile SIM cards, all procured under false names and addresses.