NEW DELHI, May 11: A minister in the Nagaland Cabinet is being questioned by the Central Government for his alleged links with banned groups propagating insurgency.

The preliminary inquiry ordered today by Union Home Minister Indrajit Gupta against Nagaland's Industry Minister K Hollohon comes after the Minister practically admitted to providing cash and shelter to members of the banned insurgent groups - National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac, Mulvaih) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Kahaplang) groups in an interview to the Nagaland Post dated Feburary 19.

S C Zamir, the Chief Minister of Nagaland, met Gupta today in this regard. This is probably the first instance when an investigation in to alleged links with banned groups has been ordered against a serving minister.

Curiously, no action was ordered for quite a while by the Union Home Ministry despite, several intelligence reports which established the links between the Minister and the banned organisations. Sources revealed that for the past six months the Union Home Ministry had been ``aware`` of the position but had not ordered a formal inquiry. Senior officials of the Home Ministry refused to comment.

Intrestingly, when the intelligence report which authoritatively detailed instances of Hollohoh's meetings with members of the NSCN (K) group both in his office at the Secretariat and his residence was brought to the attention of the former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, the Prime Minister's Office did not react and the file was returned without any comment.

The report has now been sent to Prime Minister I K Gujral.

The investigation ordered today is centred basically on the interview given to the Nagaland Post and it is not certain whether the intelligence reports will also be taken into consideration.

In that interview a copy of which is available with The Indian Express, the Industry Minister had claimed: ``To speak the truth. I am indirectly or directly giving them (National Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M and K) personnel) in both kind and cash and an also sheltering them in time of crisis.'' Three months after the public admission the Nagaland Government has yet to take any action against him.

While refusing to comment officially senior PMO officials told The Indian Express that the ``volatile situation in the region and the circumstances were not opportune for the Central government to intervene and take action".

Another official justification proffered was the fact that it was up to the elected state government to remove the Minister from the Cabinet since the Central Government could not act merely on the basis of ``preliminary information''.

The Intelligence Bureau had repeatedly warned the Government that the Minister was allegedly sheltering known members of the banned NSCN(K) faction in his official residence and preventing security agencies from taking action against them. Jamir has refused to comment.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.