New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Friday conducted searches at five locations in Mizoram’s Aizawl, Champhai and Kolasib districts, in connection with the January seizure of a huge quantity of explosives in the state.
In a press statement issued Saturday, the central counter-terrorism agency said the case relates to the recovery of around 2,422 kg of explosives, including 1,000 detonators, 4,500 metres of detonating fuse from Mizoram’s Siaha district that were meant to be delivered to a Myanmar-based outfit called the Chin National Front (CNF).
The insurgent group was in the process of “accumulating arms and ammunition for resisting the Government of Myanmar”, the press statement further said, adding that an FIR regarding the seizure was initially lodged on 21 January. After the case was transferred to the NIA on the orders of the Union home ministry, the same FIR was registered by the agency on 21 March.
The seized items, recovered by Assam Rifles personnel, included Indian currency worth Rs 73,500 and 9,35,500 kyat (Myanmarese currency). They were concealed in 100 cardboard boxes packed in a vehicle carrying relief material towards the Zawngling crossing point, for Myanmarese refugees settled along the India-Myanmar border, according to the NIA’s FIR.
According to the NIA press statement, “digital devices and incriminating documents” were seized during the searches conducted Friday, and further investigation was underway.
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‘International links, ramifications on national security’
Three people — identified as M.C. Latlungrualpuia, Lalthlengtiana and Myanmarese national Sangkima — who were travelling in the vehicle from which the explosives were recovered, were arrested during the initial investigation, according to the NIA’s FIR.
During investigation, it was found that Sangkima is a Myanmarese refugee “camping in the border district of Myanmar, adjacent to the state of Mizoram”, stated the NIA’s FIR, which was registered under Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act read with Section 14 A of The Foreigners Act.
The CNF is based along the India-Myanmar border, and is said to be dedicated to securing the “self-determination” of the Chin people. It also aims to “restore democracy and establish a federal union of Burma”.
“The central government is of the opinion that a scheduled offence under the NIA Act, 2008, has been committed and having regard to the gravity of the offence, its international linkages and ramifications on national security, it is required to be investigated by the NIA in accordance with the NIA Act,” the central agency’s FIR further noted.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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