NIA traces funds trail to hawala

Guwahati, Oct. 20: The NIA chargesheet, in connection with the defalcation of funds available with the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, has revealed that the accused created false and fabricated documents to transfer huge sums of money.

The funds were channel-ised through hawala operators in Guwahati and Calcutta.

The chargesheet, which yesterday named 16 people, including DHD (J) top brass Jewel Gorlosa and Niranjan Hojai, was filed based on case no. 02/09 of NIA which was registered on June 5, 2009.

“The funds meant for development in the district were channelised to reach the arms smugglers, who smuggled in arms and ammunition and supplied it to DHD (J) to commit acts of terror and violence,” said the chargesheet.

“Mohit Hojai, the then chief executive member of the council, directed one of the accused, Karuna Saikia, to issue supply orders to the firms of one accused Jayanta Ghosh without inviting tenders or quotations,” said the chargesheet, adding that cheques were later issued in the name of some non-existing persons or firms.

The cheques were issued without receiving any supply of materials.

Hojai later directed Jibangshu Paul, Uttam Phonglosa and Dilip Phonglo to encash the cheques from the SBI branch at Haflong.

“The amount was delivered to Hojai through his authorised representatives,” the chargesheet said. “It was later sent to Niranjan Hojai for procurement of arms and ammunition.”