The Delhi High Court has denied bail to Alemla Jamir, a leader of the Naga insurgent group NSCN-IM, in a case involving allegations of terror funding. Jamir, who styles herself as a “cabinet minister” of the NSCN-IM, faced the court’s decision on January 13, with Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur presiding.
The decision comes after Jamir’s second unsuccessful attempt to secure bail. The court pointed to the serious nature of the allegations, the substantial evidence presented, and the ongoing absence of her husband, who is also implicated and remains absconding. Jamir has been in custody for approximately 4.5 years, and the trial is still ongoing, with both the trial judge and the prosecution pushing to conclude it promptly.
The bench highlighted the importance of not hurrying the justice process, stating, “Justice hurried is justice buried.” They emphasized that the quality of evidence must not be compromised, even as efforts are made to expedite the trial.
One of the key concerns raised by the court was the potential risk of Jamir fleeing due to her high-ranking position within the NSCN-IM. The court also noted her capacity to possibly influence witnesses or tamper with evidence, leading to the dismissal of her bail appeal.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) initiated the case against Jamir following her detention at the Delhi airport on December 17, 2019. She was prevented from boarding a flight to Dimapur with Rs 72 lakh in cash, which she could not account for. This incident triggered further scrutiny by the Income Tax Department.
The prosecution argued that Jamir, along with other defendants, orchestrated a sophisticated extortion network via the “Naga Army” to finance terrorist activities. This network allegedly involved coercing money from local businessmen in Dimapur. The court detailed that Jamir had set up around 20 bank accounts, some under fictitious names, to manage the funds accrued from these activities.
The court’s ruling underscored the gravity of the accusations, identifying NSCN-IM as a terrorist organization with advanced armaments and a structure akin to a parallel government. The findings of the NIA investigation painted a comprehensive picture of Jamir’s involvement in a criminal conspiracy aimed at bolstering the NSCN-IM’s financial base through systematic extortion.
