Kolkata is fast turning into the hub of hawala trade and arms dealing for myriad militant outfits of the Northeast. The maiden charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) reveals this.
Earlier this year, the NIA was given its first case - diversion of developmental funds in Assam's troubled North Cachar Hills district to militant outfits, primarily the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel). The probe led it to the hawala racket and an international small arms ring operating from the West Bengal capital.
Investigations revealed one Vanlalchchana of Mizoram was the DHD (J)'s major arms supplier, who in return received money from Mohet Hojai, the deposed Chief Executive Member (CEM) of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC).
Vanlalchhana had visited Singapore and Thailand and met Jewel Garlosa and Niranjan Hojai to procure the arms. Garlosa, arrested from Bangalore earlier this year, is chairman of DHD(J) while Niranjan Hojai is its military head.
Vanlalchchana, one of 14 charge-sheeted by NIA, was a frequent visitor to Kolkata. He disclosed to NIA that he frequented Kolkata to convert Indian currency to dollars.
The man from Mizoram, said the charge-sheet, visited Kathmandu with a friend named Chhungup to hand over the dollars to Niranjan Hojai for procurement of arms. He had thrice converted to dollars more than Rs 1 crore he had received out of funds siphoned off projects meant for NCHAC. Vanlachhana revealed he was getting Re 1 for every dollar he converted on Niranjan Hojai's behalf.
The analysis of Vanlalchchana's call data record (CDR) revealed that a Mizo woman named Malsawmkimi was helping him in converting the money in Kolkata. The CDR also revealed he was in constant touch with another accused named George Lamthang in Kolkata.
Investigation further revealed that a portions of funds allotted to Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department and Social Welfare Department were utilized by the DHD(J). Rs 13.5 crore was siphoned away directly from the bank account of Social Welfare Department in the 2008-2009 fiscal besides a large amount by other means and Rs 3 crore siphoned away from the PHE Department this year.
Funds were then received in Kolkata by accused Sandip Ghosh, Debasish Bhattacharjee and Jayanta Kumar Ghosh and then handed over to Phojendra Hojai, all contractors handling projects in NC Hills. The first three are Kolkata-based.
On three occasions in 2009, Mohet Hojai sent money. Jayanta Ghosh received the money directly or through Sandip Ghosh and Bhatttacharjee before relaying it to Phojendra, whose preferred haunts were Madhumilan Guest House and Hotel Shalimar in Kolkata.
The first Rs 1 crore, in two installments, was brought in cash from Guwahati by two go-betweens named Imdad Ali and Bapi and delivered at Madhumilan Guest House at Bara Bazzar. This happened after the Council was formed in January 2008. "Money was collected from Marwaris whose addresses were given by Mohet Hojai and Imdad Ali. The system of identification with the help of the number of a note at the hands of the recipient was followed," the charge sheet said.
After these deliveries, another consignment of more than Rs 1 crore was delivered at Hotel Shalimar to Phojendra Hojai in January this year. The same system was followed. Money was again sent in February and in March, after Mohet Hojai had succeeded Depolal Hojai as the CEM.
Earlier this year, the NIA was given its first case - diversion of developmental funds in Assam's troubled North Cachar Hills district to militant outfits, primarily the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel). The probe led it to the hawala racket and an international small arms ring operating from the West Bengal capital.
Investigations revealed one Vanlalchchana of Mizoram was the DHD (J)'s major arms supplier, who in return received money from Mohet Hojai, the deposed Chief Executive Member (CEM) of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC).
Vanlalchhana had visited Singapore and Thailand and met Jewel Garlosa and Niranjan Hojai to procure the arms. Garlosa, arrested from Bangalore earlier this year, is chairman of DHD(J) while Niranjan Hojai is its military head.
Vanlalchchana, one of 14 charge-sheeted by NIA, was a frequent visitor to Kolkata. He disclosed to NIA that he frequented Kolkata to convert Indian currency to dollars.
The man from Mizoram, said the charge-sheet, visited Kathmandu with a friend named Chhungup to hand over the dollars to Niranjan Hojai for procurement of arms. He had thrice converted to dollars more than Rs 1 crore he had received out of funds siphoned off projects meant for NCHAC. Vanlachhana revealed he was getting Re 1 for every dollar he converted on Niranjan Hojai's behalf.
The analysis of Vanlalchchana's call data record (CDR) revealed that a Mizo woman named Malsawmkimi was helping him in converting the money in Kolkata. The CDR also revealed he was in constant touch with another accused named George Lamthang in Kolkata.
Investigation further revealed that a portions of funds allotted to Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department and Social Welfare Department were utilized by the DHD(J). Rs 13.5 crore was siphoned away directly from the bank account of Social Welfare Department in the 2008-2009 fiscal besides a large amount by other means and Rs 3 crore siphoned away from the PHE Department this year.
Funds were then received in Kolkata by accused Sandip Ghosh, Debasish Bhattacharjee and Jayanta Kumar Ghosh and then handed over to Phojendra Hojai, all contractors handling projects in NC Hills. The first three are Kolkata-based.
On three occasions in 2009, Mohet Hojai sent money. Jayanta Ghosh received the money directly or through Sandip Ghosh and Bhatttacharjee before relaying it to Phojendra, whose preferred haunts were Madhumilan Guest House and Hotel Shalimar in Kolkata.
The first Rs 1 crore, in two installments, was brought in cash from Guwahati by two go-betweens named Imdad Ali and Bapi and delivered at Madhumilan Guest House at Bara Bazzar. This happened after the Council was formed in January 2008. "Money was collected from Marwaris whose addresses were given by Mohet Hojai and Imdad Ali. The system of identification with the help of the number of a note at the hands of the recipient was followed," the charge sheet said.
After these deliveries, another consignment of more than Rs 1 crore was delivered at Hotel Shalimar to Phojendra Hojai in January this year. The same system was followed. Money was again sent in February and in March, after Mohet Hojai had succeeded Depolal Hojai as the CEM.
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