Anthony Shimray, chief arms procurer of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isak/Muivah (NSCN-IM), was arrested by Nepal’s security authorities late last month, when he arrived in Kathmandu airport, and handed over to Indian authorities.

Even while the top leaders of the group are involved in direct talks with the Government of India, Shimray continued to procure arms from China and arranged their transfer to their cadres in Nagaland through Myanmar and Bangladesh.  

One such consignment was seized in May by Myanmar’s Navy at Buthidaung jetty on the banks of the river Mayu. Their investigations revealed that the shipment of arms was arranged by Anthony Shimray from Thai-Myanmar border. The weapons were concealed in the cargo boat carrying rice and fertilizers.  Another consignment was planned to be brought through Bangladesh coast but was abandoned as security atmosphere was no more congenial there.

Shimray’s arrival in Nepal was nothing to do with the current peace talks between representatives of Indian government and the insurgent outfit.  He has been living in Bangkok, Thailand on Indian passport, although he frequently travels to Kunming in China on a forged Bangladeshi passport.  His Thai visa has expired and as per the local regulations, he would have to return to his country for renewal of visa.  He, therefore, planned to sneak into Indian side from Nepal through porous land border and return the same route after arranging for visa renewal.  He had a return ticket to fly back to Bangkok from Kathmandu three days after his arrival.

Nepali security authorities arrested him as his name appears on `watch list’. 

His arrest would seriously affect the NSCN-IM’s arms procurement from China and the outfit’s links to the Chinese intelligence as Shimray has been the main conduit to them.