NIA spl court convicts UNLF chief, 17 ultras

Guwahati: The NIA court here on Wednesday convicted 18 militants of the banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) – including its chairman – under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code for offences including criminal conspiracy of terrorists acts and waging war against the Government of India.
The NIA informed that on April 30, 2010, based on information, a search was conducted at a rented house in Guwahati in which two persons identified as Khundong Tomba @ Bikramjiot ,vice-chairman of UNLF and Nabichand alias Abo alias Dilip, of UNLF were arrested and from their possession one laptop, three pen drives, one mobile phone, one wireless internet connection and Rs.50,000 were seized.
In the subsequent investigation, NIA and Assam police arrested 20 more members of the UNLF, who were      involved in terrorist conspiracy in the states of Manipur and Assam.
Evidence has been brought on record by the NIA to establish that 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.
The NIA also arrested UNLF Chairman Raj Kumar Meghen alias Sanayama and a large number of digital articles like laptop, mobile phones etc., recovered from him and other cadres, which revealed financial dealings of the organisation as well as money trail of investments by the organization, which were located and seized during the investigation.
The Agency submitted two charge sheets in the case, charging 25 persons for their involvement in terrorist conspiracy and waging war against the government.
Of these, 18 persons faced the criminal trial and remaining seven are absconding. 18 persons have been convicted and have been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment ranging from 7 to 10 years by the NIA Special Court.