Nagaland home minister quits after cash, arms haul

Nagaland Home Minister Imkong L Imchen resigned from the council of ministers after he was arrested for allegedly transporting Rs 1.10 crore in cash and arms and ammunition in a vehicle in Wokha district in the poll-bound state.

Imchen submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio late on Monday night, press secretary to the Chief Minister Abu Metha said.

In his resignation letter, Imchen said the "Assam Rifles flying squad intercepted his motorcade while coming from Kohima" and that the seized amount of Rs 1.10 crore was received from NPF's central office for election purpose, according to Mehta.

The letter expressed ignorance about the presence of arms and ammunition in his vehicle.

Imchen, when contacted, said, "I was totally unaware of the arms and ammunition seized along with cash... under such circumstances, I felt the need to tender resignation from the council of ministers with immediate effect owing moral responsibility.”

Mehta said, "Since the chief minister is out of the station, things have not yet been decided.”

Another Congress candidate contesting from the Sanis constituency Y Sulanthung H Lotha was arrested with cash of Rs 3.7 lakh and a .22 pistol along with nine rounds late on Monday night by the Dimapur police.

Police sources said Lotha was travelling in his vehicle when he was intercepted by a mobile vehicle check post in Dimapur.