Naga 'terror funding' can be linked to polls, peace process: Officials

New Delhi, Oct 14 : The menace of 'terror funding' in Nagaland seems to be on the rise in the militancy-hit state and the government agencies including National Investigation Agency (NIA) are going full steam for crackdown against them, especially in the run-up to the state assembly elections. The Nagaland government top officials, including at the level of Chief Secretary, are coordinating with the NIA and other central forces and agencies, especially in the wake of reports that some government officials also work in nexus with ultra groups, state government sources said. The Assam Rifles had caught a senior representative of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-Khaplang) in July and reportedly informed the state government and other agencies about alleged involvement of a few state government officials in the nexus, sources said here. The NIA have also arrested officials from Fisheries department and produced them in a special designated court in Dimapur. "Such funding and nexus between officials and ultra groups are not unusual in Nagaland and this increases every time before elections. This is a matter of concern. In the meanwhile, Naga peace talks is almost at final stage and the Centre is trying to ensure full participation of all stake holders including NSCN(IM) and other groups owing allegiance to Naga National Political Groups," the source said. Central government's negotiator R N Ravi has already held one round of meeting with the members of the Working Committee of NNPG and both sides agreed to work on the principle of "equality and mutual respect". There have been reports that NSCN(K), which walked out of peace talks in 2015, can try to hamper the ongoing parleys. In fact, last month Indian Army claimed that it had inflicted “heavy casualties” on the cadres of the NSCN (K) during retaliatory fire along the India-Myanmar border. UNI