New Delhi, Oct 8 A special NIA court here has sentenced a Thai arms smuggler to six years' imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 5 lakh in a case linked to an international arms procurement conspiracy by the NSCN-IM, officials said on Thursday.
The court, which convicted Willy Naruenartwanich alias Wuthikorn Naruenartwanich alias Willy on September 24 for offences under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 122 (collecting arms, etc., with intention of waging war against the government of India) of the IPC and Section 18 (punishment for conspiracy) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, pronounced its judgement on Wednesday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said in a statement.
The case relates to a conspiracy hatched by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) – NSCN-IM – to procure a large consignment of lethal arms and ammunition from foreign sources, it said.
The weapons were intended to strengthen the outfit's armed cadres and facilitate terrorist activities, besides constituting preparatory acts for waging war against the government of India, the statement said.
The NIA registered the case on January 13, 2010, following an order of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
According to the investigation, Naruenartwanich, a Thai businessman and arms smuggler based in Bangkok, acted as a middleman and key conspirator for the arms procurement network, it said.
He worked in coordination with Anthony Shimray, NSCN-IM’s chief arms procurer, and facilitated negotiations with the representatives of a Chinese arms and ammunition company, the statement said.
The probe established that the proposed procurement and transhipment arrangement was valued at approximately USD 1.2 million.
The conviction and sentencing marked a significant development in the case concerning the international network allegedly used by the NSCN-IM to procure arms and ammunition from foreign sources, the statement said.
The NSCN-IM entered into a ceasefire agreement with the government of India in 1997 and has since been holding talks to find a solution to its decades-old political struggle.
The two sides also signed the Framework Agreement in August 2015. However, the NSCN-IM's key demands for a separate Naga flag and constitution, as well as the integration of Naga-inhabited areas, have not been accepted by the Centre, delaying a final settlement.
