NIA Special Court Convicts UNLF Chief RK Meghen, 17 Others

The punishment ranges from vigorous imprisonment for eight to ten years.

UNLF in their camps in Myanmar. (Photo Courtesy: Subir Bhaumik)

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court in Guwahati convicted 18 members of United National Liberation Front (UNLF) under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code, for charges, including criminal conspiracy of terrorists acts and waging war against government of India, on Wednesday.

Three of the 18 convicts are identified as follows:

• Raj Kumar Meghen aka Sanamaiya, Chairman
  
• Khundong Tomba, Vice Chairman
  
• Y Nabichand Dilip, Member
  

Tomba and Dilip were arrested in a search operation on 10 April 2010.

In the subsequent investigation, NIA and Assam Police arrested 20 more members of the banned terrorist organisation, who were involved in terrorist conspiracy in the states of Manipur and Assam.

A large number of digital articles like laptop and mobile phones were recovered from Meghen’s arrest, which revealed financial dealings of the organisation as well as its investments’ money trail.

According to the NIA press release, the said proscribed organisation indulged in large scale extortion from government servants, recruitment of cadres, purchase of arms and ammunition, for waging war against the government

While Meghen was sentenced to 10 years of vigorous imprisonment, the punishment for the rest ranges from 8 to 10 years.

The NIA had framed two chargesheets against 25 members of the UNLF. Besides the 18 convicts, 7 are absconding.

(With agency inputs.)