Kohima: Cash amounting to more than `10m and weapons were seized from the vehicle of Nagaland Home Minister Imkong Imchen yesterday. The minister said the money belonged to the party funds but he had no idea how the arms got into his car.
Troopers of the Assam Rifles seized `11m in cash, five pistols, two 7.65mm calibre rifles and 140 round of 303 rifle ammunition from Imchen’s vehicle at Sathupang area in Wokha district early yesterday while he was on his way to his Koridanga constituency in Mokokchung district.
“Yes, the money belongs to our party (Naga People’s Front) and it is our party fund, but I have no knowledge how the arms and ammunition were kept in my vehicle,” Imchen said.
He refused to speak further on the seizure saying that the matter is under investigation.
This is the second big cash seizure in poll-bound Nagaland. On Saturday, election officials seized `10m in cash from NPF candidate H Nyemli Phom after his helicopter landed at the Assam Rifles helipad in Longleng district.
Phom, who is seeking re-election from Tamlu constituency, later claimed that the money was given to him by the party and was part of NPF funds. 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.IANS
