A top leader of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland–Khaplang faction (NSCN-K) was arrested in Delhi on Monday evening, the Delhi Police said.
Ngamsinlung Panmei (50) is the ‘health minister’ and political advisor of the Naga rebel outfit that runs a parallel, but exiled government in Nagaland under the name, Government of Peoples Republic of Nagaland (GPRN).
Rajiv Ranjan, DCP (Special Cell), said that Panmei had rose through the ranks in the organisation and led the outfit’s fund-raising and recruitment activities. “He heavily indulged in extorting money from contractors, businessmen, and government employees. The money collected were used to run the outfit,” said the DCP.
The outfit had attacked an army convoy in Manipur in June this year and killed 18 personnel. “Panmei is being questioned to ascertain the identity of the assailants involved in the ambush,” said Mr. Ranjan.
Panmei had allegedly visited Taga in Myanmar in March this year to meet the faction leader, S S Khaplang. “He arrived in Delhi early in July and had been living in a rented accommodation in Mahipalpur,” said the officer.
Panmei was arrested immediately after he stepped out of an autorickshaw very close to India Habitat Centre in the Lodhi Road area. He was allegedly there to meet a ‘close associate’. A laptop, some mobile phones and SIM cards have been recovered from Panmei, said the police. He would soon be handed over to the Manipur Police.
