Mahanta relieved from questioning-in secret killing case

Guwahati, Nov 16 (UNI) The prosecution lawyers in the 'secret killings' case today said they would not require former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, a main accused in the case, for questioning.

The alleged secret killings controversy had rocked Asom during the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) regime under Mr Mahanta in the last decade. The government had been accused of hiring secret agents to eliminate ULFA leaders and their sympathisers. He had since then quit AGP and formed the AGP (Progressive).

Mr Mahanta, who also held the Home portfolio then, is among the prime accused and his name had figured in a number of high profile cases. He had deposed before the Justice (retd) K N Saikia Commission, investigating the matter, a couple of months back.

Mr Mahanta was to appear before the Commission today in the murder case of Mahesh Nath of Goalpara in 1999. The deceased was a AGP supporter, who had gone on to support an anti-Mahanta splinter group of the parent party.

Mr Mahanta's advocate submitted an affidavit today, pleading that his client would appear in the case after he had questioned Mahesh Nath's father.

However, the government and Commission advocates Musharry and Y M Phukan respectively informed the Commission that they had no further questions for Mr Mahanta in the case, at least for the time being.

The advocates stated that they had got the necessary information from Mr Mahanta during his previous appearances.

UNI SG PC MSJ VC1730