Nagaland Home Minister Imkong L Imchen was arrested on Monday for allegedly transporting `1.10 cr in cash, arms and ammunition and liquor in a vehicle in Wokha district in the poll-bound State, official sources said.
Wokha SP Lima Sunep said Imchen, who was earlier detained, was put under arrest this evening. Assam Rifles personnel, acting on specific information, set up a mobile vehicle checkpost on the highway near Longsa village where Imchen was detained at 6 am as he was driving to his constituency, Koridang, in Mokokchung district from Kohima, Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer of Wokha district R Vyasan said.
The Assam Rifles personnel searched the vehicle and seized the cash, two .303 rifles with 100 rounds of ammunition, five 7.65 mm pistol with 80 rounds of ammunition and a case of liquor, Vyasan said. After the seizure, they informed the Election Commission surveillance team, the district administration and the police, he said.
Officials said the Home Minister, who is the Naga People’s Front candidate from Koridang seat and in-charge of the NPF campaign committee of Mokokchung district, was detained and his statements were being recorded.
Earlier, on June 30, 2010, Imchen was detained at Kathmandu airport for carrying Indian currency in denominations of `1,000 and `500, which were banned in Nepal.
On February 16, an Election Commission surveillance team had seized `1 cr cash from a helicopter allegedly being used by a candidate of the Nagaland People’s Front. A team of EC-appointed observers seized the cash from a chopper, which was allegedly hired to ferry Nyemli Phom, who is contesting the February 23 Assembly polls from a constituency in Longleng district.