Kohima, Nagaland, April 10 (HBTV): In a strongly worded statement that has stirred political and bureaucratic circles in Nagaland, senior IAS officer Reny Wilfred has claimed that he is the target of a deep-rooted political conspiracy and procedural violations aimed at destroying his career and credibility.

Wilfred, who served as the deputy commissioner of Noklak and is currently posted as a joint secretary, has been recently relieved of his duties following fresh allegations of misconduct.

According to Wilfred, the conspiracy against him dates back to 2016-17, when he was allegedly approached by a senior Nagaland officer to support a covert plan aimed at toppling the then government through technical and financial means.  

Wilfred stated that he refused to participate in the scheme, which he believes led to a targeted campaign against him. He claims to possess documentary evidence of this approach, which he says can be authenticated by national intelligence agencies.

First threat of arrest in 2021: Says has audio evidence

The IAS officer revealed that in January 2021, he was warned by a superintendent of police about an order for his immediate arrest based on a complaint supposedly filed by persons from the Tikhir tribe. However, the tribal leaders reportedly denied filing any such complaint, and Wilfred maintains that their identities were misused to frame him. He says he holds audio evidence supporting this claim.

Meetings to “fix” his career alleged

Wilfred alleged that a closed-door meeting was held in 2021 by some senior officials from the police department with the intention of terminating his career and sending him to jail. While he refrained from sharing full details due to legal sensitivities, he claimed that multiple departmental meetings followed as part of the same agenda.

Anti-trafficking measures and retaliation: Suspicious deaths

As deputy commissioner of Noklak, Wilfred said he spearheaded efforts to curb child trafficking by enforcing village-level registers and stricter documentation. Rather than receiving support, he claims his actions were met with backlash, and complaints were filed against him. He further revealed that an informant who aided in these efforts died under suspicious circumstances on the very day of his departure from Noklak, followed by several related deaths, which he has reported to the high court.

Disputed police report on threats to life

Wilfred also questioned a police report submitted in 2021 to the high court, which claimed there was no threat to his life and that a compromise had been reached. He insisted that no such compromise ever took place and that the information was submitted without his knowledge. He cited a later high court-formed committee report that nullified the claim of “compromise”.

Misuse of intelligence officials’ identities  

The officer went on to name a central intelligence official, stating that his name was being used in connection with alleged threats made against him. He questioned how the police department arrived at such conclusions and expressed concern over the misuse of the identities of intelligence personnel.

Procedural violations in latest allegations

Reacting to the latest round of allegations, which reportedly involve accusations of sexual assault, Wilfred alleged that proper procedure was ignored. According to him, the Nagaland State Women Commission bypassed the mandated Internal Complaints Committee and directly filed a First Information Report. He contended that several women listed as “victims” had never filed complaints, and some of them had previously worked closely with him in various capacities.

Questions on legal representation

Wilfred also alleged a major conflict of interest involving an advocate who simultaneously held positions as a government teacher, a legal consultant to the Women Commission, and a private legal counsel for the complainants. He claimed that this violated multiple service conduct rules and possibly the Advocates Act.

Officer appeals to civil society and public

In a final statement, Wilfred assured that he will not leave Nagaland and is ready to face any lawful investigation. He appealed to tribal bodies, women’s organizations, and student unions to allow the law to take its course without prejudice, and to examine the full context before drawing conclusions.

As the controversy unfolds, Wilfred’s claims have sparked widespread attention across Nagaland, raising questions about the intersection of politics, bureaucracy, and the integrity of institutional processes. The matter is expected to progress through legal channels in the days to come, he said.