NSCN leader produced before NIA special court Betrayal accusation finger at Delhi
Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, February 10, 2012:
Anthony Shimray, Head of Foreign Affairs of the NSCN (IM) was produced before the Special Court of NIA today at Patiala in New Delhi.
Shimray who alledgedly 'disappeared' from Katmandu Airport on September 27, 2010,was later brought to Delhi by the National Investigation Agency on October 3, 2010 subsequently filing a charge-sheet before the Special Judge (NIA), Patiala House Court, New Delhi, claiming that Anthony was arrested in Patna on October 2, 2010. While sections under 18 of the UPA Act have been removed until now , Shimray was booked under case 120 B, 122 of the IPC and 18 of UPA claiming that Anthony was involved in a conspiracy to procure a huge consignment of arms and ammunitions from foreign countries to be used for committing terrorist activities and wage war against the Government of India.
According to the NIA, Shimray has been travelling extensively to China, Bangkok, Philippines, Dhaka and Myanmar and was engaged in negotiations with illegal arms dealers for purchasing arms with the intention of smuggling these into India to arm the cadres of NSCN-IM which is a "terrorist" organization.
Reaffirming his stand that he was the key initiator of the peace process of NSCN (IM) and Government of India, between his movement in the Court, Shimray briefly said " I had initiated a dialogue between the GOI and Achik National Volunteers during Zoramthanga's Chief Ministership".
Shimray also mentioned his 'rendezvous' with the representative (one of the protected witnesses who deposed today) in Mizoram during those period, whom he said knows him very well.
Earlier on January 4, the Court had rejected the bail plea of Anthony Shimray.
The trial case proceedings will continue till February 15. One of the defense counsel associates of Shimray informed that there are 68 witnesses in the case.
Meanwhile, in his handwritten letter dated January 18, Shimray had threatened to go on a hunger strike inside Tihar Jail.
Shimray wrote about his apprehension on the ongoing peace talk, calling the act of his detention by the Government of India 'conspicuous'.
Questioning as to why he alone was given such treatment, Shimray wrote that this is a betrayal on the part of the Government of India, stating that he had participated in the peace talks for more than ten times.
Adding that his arrest and kidnap is a wrong signal to all the other groups who would have otherwise come out, Shimray wrote that he not only represents the Nagas but other smaller groups too in creating a platform for negotiations with the Government of India.
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