Ex-Nagaland CM Zeliang seeks fresh date to appear before NIA

Kohima: Former Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang has written to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) expressing his inability to appear for questioning in connection with an alleged "tax collection and terror funding" case due to the assembly session beginning on Tuesday and sought a fresh date.

"It is not possible for me to appear before you as per the summons at such a short notice. I shall therefore, be grateful if I am summoned to appear before you on another date after the session," the Leader of Opposition wrote in a letter to the NIA.

The veteran Naga People's Front (NPF) leader has been asked to appear at the NIA headquarters here on Tuesday with relevant documents.

The case pertains to alleged extortion by groups such as NSCN(K), NSCN(IM) and Naga National Council from at least 14 government departments.

Meanwhile, the opposition NPF has questioned the BJP-led government at the Centre as to whether a "well-webbed political vendetta is being played out against Zeliang".

"A devious game is being played against former Chief Minister by the NIA which is tasked with looking into terror activities in the country but now appears to be used to grind the proverbial political axe," the NPF statement stated.

On January 18, 2017, the NIA had conducted searches in various government departments in Nagaland and seized receipts that showed payments of Rs 2 crore.

The agency had said that these seizures prima facie indicate the connivance of these government organisations in funding various underground organisations operating in Nagaland.