Special Team set up to monitor funds flow
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 23:
With the Government, both at the Centre as well as at the State taking serious note of the rampant extortions by militant outfits from the funds allotted by the Centre, New Delhi has set up a Special Team to monitor how the funds are being utilised as well as to see whether the funds have made its way to the coffers of the militants.
Disclosing this to The Sangai Express, a reliable source informed that the team will study how the funds pumped in by the Centre for development works in the State are being utilised.
The team will also study the flow of the funds and verify whether any percentage of the funds are being taken by militant outfits.
The team will also study if the funds have been diverted to any of the militant leaders based outside the State in other cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore etc.
Investigations will also be conducted along the line to verify whether the money so extorted have been utilised for buying properties in the cities, like flats or landed properties.
If this is verified then the flats or landed properties or any other assets will be confiscated by the Government.
In case the militant leaders have opened any bank accounts under fictitious names, then the account would be frozen, conveyed the source further.
The Centre decided to constitute the Special Team after receiving inputs of militant leaders buying assets and properties in other cities from the amount extorted from the funds given by Delhi to the State Government.
In connection with the new development, Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh has issued a written directive to the DGP of the State Police to act under the Money Laundering Act, 2005 and act accordingly.
The Chief Secretary specifically asked the DGP to check the assets of Government officials, militants and their relatives and if their assets are found to be incompatible with their known sources of income then to take up fitting action under the Money Laundering Act, added the source.
Significantly, a five member team including representatives from the Enforcement Directorate and the Narcotics Bureau visited the State on May 30 to study the situation under the above mentioned Act.
Earlier the State Govt had also issued an order to book any Govt officials under the NSA if they are found going outside the State to meet militant leaders to discuss and settle financial demands made on them by the underground outfits.