Rs 1.10 crores, arms seized from Nagaland Home Minister

Kohima, February 18 (agencies): Nagaland's Home MinisterImkong L Imchen was detained at 5.30 am on Monday near the poll-bound state's Wokha district after Rs 1.10 crore in cash and a cache of arms and ammunition, including rifles, was recovered from his vehicle by Assam Rifles personnel.

EC sources say that that apart from Rs 1.10 crore in cash; 5 pistols, 2 7.65 mm calibre rifles and 140 .303 rifle bullets were seized from the vehicle in which he was travelling to his constituency Koridanga in Mokokchung district from Kohima. Assam Rifles intercepted the vehicle near the Nagaland-Assam border and recovered the aforesaid items after a search.

Imchem is the Nagaland People's Front candidate from Koridanga and also the campaign in charge of NPF.  The minister said the money belonged to the party funds but said he had no idea how the arms got into his car.

This is second big seizure from Nagaland in the last couple of days. On Saturday, Rs 1 crore in cash was seized from a helicopter hired by another NPF candidate, Nyemli Phom. He had later claimed that the money was given to him by the party and was part of NPF funds. EC is now awaiting a written confirmation of this from the NPF treasurer.

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

 The opposition Congress has demanded that the Election Commission take action against Imchen for possessing illegal arms and ammunition.

"It is unbecoming of a home minister to carry illegal arms and ammunition. It is a serious criminal offence and the Election Commission should take action against him as per the law of the land," Leader of Opposition Tokheko Yepthomi said.