A letter dated 7 October 2023 from the director of finance of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) to a businessman demands a "contribution" of Rs 10 crore for the "ongoing liberation struggle of Manipur against Indian colonial rule."
A second letter, dated 18 September 2023, requests Rs 2 crore.
United National Liberation Front | ANI
These letters are part of the evidence presented by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in its investigation of a money-laundering case involving UNLF members in Manipur. The letters are included in the ED's chargesheet, filed in a special PMLA court in Delhi, and obtained by ThePrint.
According to the ED’s investigation, UNLF cadres extorted crores of rupees from the public and businesses, and illegally collected toll taxes on national highways to fuel ethnic unrest in Manipur.
The ED’s probe revealed that the money was collected in cash as part of a “larger conspiracy.”
The investigation began in July 2023, following a case registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The NIA’s case focused on a “transnational conspiracy” involving Myanmar-based terrorist groups operating in the northeastern states. Their goal was to "exploit ethnic unrest in Manipur" and "wage war against the Government of India."
On 16 October, the ED arrested two individuals—Thokchom Gyaneshor and Laimayum Anand Sharma—under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). A charge sheet was filed on 12 December, and the court took cognizance of it on Wednesday.
Funds allocated for hiring and training
The ED stated that the funds obtained through extortion were used strategically for the "recruitment and training of UNLF cadres, procurement of illegal arms and ammunition, arranging logistics, maintaining the organization and its camps, as well as covering individual expenses of the cadres."
“These funds were gathered to wage war against the Government of India and carry out terrorist attacks, which worsened the security situation in Manipur,” an ED officer remarked.
The ED further noted that an analysis of digital devices seized from the accused showed their active involvement in "fundraising, budget preparation, and acquiring illegal arms."
The UNLF, a banned terrorist organization founded in 1964, seeks to make Manipur independent from India.
“It also has an armed wing called Manipur People’s Army (MPA). Thokchom Gyaneshor was self-styled Chief of Army Staff of UNLF and also remained the self-styled Secretary, External and Regional Affairs Department (ERAD) of UNLF. Laimayum Anand Sharma was self-styled Intelligence Officer of UNLF”, the ED said in a statement.
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