Nagaland Home Minister detained; arms, ammunition, Rs 1 cr cash seized from his car

Nagaland Home Minister Imkong L Imchen was detained early today for allegedly transporting Rs 1.10 crore in cash, arms and ammunition and liquor in a vehicle in Wokha district in the poll-bound state.

Assam Rifles personnel, acting on specific information, set up a mobile vehicle checkpost on the highway near Longsa village where Imchen was detained at 6 am as he was driving to his constituency, Koridang, in Mokokchung district from Kohima, Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer of Wokha district R Vyasan told PTI.

The Assam Rifles personnel searched the vehicle and seized Rs 1.10 crore in cash, two .303 rifles with 100 rounds of ammunition, five 7.65 mm pistol with 80 rounds of ammunition and a case of liquor, Vyasan said.

After the seizure, they informed the Election Commission surveillance team, the district administration and the police, he said.

Officials said that the Home Minister, who is the Naga People's Front candidate from the Koridang seat and in-charge of the NPF campaign committee of Mokokchung district, was detained and his statements were being recorded.

Earlier, on June 30, 2010, Imchen was detained at the Kathmandu airport for carrying Indian currency in enominations of Rs 1000 and Rs 500, which were banned in Nepal.

On February 16, an Election Commission surveillance team had seized Rs one crore cash from a helicopter allegedly being used by a candidate of the Nagaland Peoples Front.

A team of EC-appointed observers seized the cash from a chopper, which was allegedly hired to ferry Nyemli Phom, who is contesting the February 23 Assembly polls from a constituency in Longleng district.

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