Thai NSCN-IM member extradited, sent to NIA custody

A court here on Wednesday sent Thai national Wuthikorn Naruenartwanich, an alleged member of the NSCN-IM, to the NIA's custody till December 21 for supplying arms and ammunition to insurgent groups in the northeast.

Naruenartwanich was extradited to India from Bangkok on December 8.

"Naruenartwanich is a Thai national and was stationed in Bangkok. Upon a request made for his extradition, the criminal court in Thailand ordered extradition of the accused to stand trial in India in the instant case," the National Investigating Agency (NIA) said.

The NIA told the court that he was required to be interrogated thoroughly to unearth the entire nexus.

A non-bailable warrant was issued against Naruenartwanich by the court on April 15, 2011, and a Red Corner notice was also issued by Interpol.

The NIA said the case was lodged against Anthony Shimray, the chief arms procurer for NSCN-IM, T.R. Calvin, Hangshi Ramson Tangkhul and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for conspiring to procure arms from other countries.

It said these arms were to be used for committing terror activities in India.

The accused had negotiated with arms dealers in Thailand and China for purchasing arms and had also deposited money with foreign arms selling firms, it said.

A charge sheet was filed on March 26, 2011, against Shimray, Calvin, Tangkhul and Naruenartwanich.

Of the four accused, only Shimray was arrested while the others are missing and on the run. Shimray is facing trial in a special NIA court here.