Reacting to reports appearing in a national print media, Nagaland Police has categorically dismissed the report “Nagaland Police snubs NIA” that appeared on July 9, in which it was alleged that the state police refused to allow a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team from questioning NSCN (I-M) leaders in connection with a major extortion racket.
In a rejoinder, SP (Crime) and police PRO Manoj Kumar A, asserted that the content of the news items was “not only factually incorrect” but a malicious intent aimed at creating misunderstanding and straining the “excellent rapport” enjoyed between the state police with “all regional and national law enforcing and investigating agencies”.
The SP(Crime) claimed that the NIA, through its DIG office in Kolkata, had given a clarification to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and dismissed the news report as false. He said NIA Guwahati office had also expressed regret to commissioner of police, Dimapur over the fabricated news report.
Giving sequence of the news item , the SP said following a telephonic intimation on July 5, that a team of NIA officials from Guwahati were arriving Dimapur on July 6 in connection with a case (no. 0074/2020 dated 05.07.2020), necessary arrangements were made in terms of logistics, accommodation, escorts/security and transportation.
The SP(Crime)said this information was followed by a formal fax message received from SP office of NIA, Guwahati (MISC/ 2020/9366 dated 05.07.2020) requesting examination of the apprehended accused persons in connection with the case.
Subsequently, the NIA team led by a DySP arrived Dellai gate, for which arrangements were made to take the team to COVID Hospital, Dimapur for necessary medical screening and COVID-19 testing as mandated by Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for any person coming from outside. He said accommodation for the NIA team at the Central Police Officers’ Mess, Chumukedima, escorts at Dellai gate and other security arrangements were arranged.
However, he said the NIA team expressed inability to wait for the test results and hence did not enter Nagaland but waited at Dellai Gate after giving a written requisition to commissioner of police, Dimapur (no. MISC/Enquiry/2020/9368 dated 06.07.2020), seeking copies of case-related documents, which were promptly made available and received by the DySP.
Later after receiving all the relevant case records and documents from the police, he said the NIA team returned to Guwahati from the gate.
Later, a second NIA team led by another DySP NIA arrived Dimapur on July 8 and, after being subjected to mandatory COVID-19 screening and testing at District Hospital, Dimapur as per medical protocol, were taken to Central Police Officers’ Mess, Chumukedima under police escort to address all security concerns.
Even the team’s place of stay was secured putting necessary security arrangement in place.
He also said after being tested negative and after receipt of medical clearance from Dimapur chief medical officer, the team was given access to the accused persons and proceeded with their line of interrogation.
The SP (Crime) therefore, termed the news item was baseless, false and fabricated making a distorted presentation of what actually transpired.
“Nagaland Police has always been sensitive on matters of national security and has been extending cooperation to all law enforcing agencies. The police have even in the past extended all cooperation to national investigating agencies and even investigating agencies of various States. The Nagaland Police shall not be found wanting and shall always stand true to its motto of ‘Security, Service, Sacrifice’”, he asserted.