Former CM demands inquiry into FCI officer's killin'g

Guwahati, July 3 (UNI) Former Asom chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today demanded an inquiry into the killing of Food Corporation of India (FCI) Executive Director P C Ram by ULFA militants.

Mr Mahanta alleged that though the FCI officer was killed, the Congress-led government kept claiming that Ram was ''safe and alive''.

The Executive Director was abducted on April 17 and his mutilated body was recovered from a remote village in Baska district of lower Asom, bordering Bhutan, on June 29 night. Though initial reports had suggested that he had died of malaria, subsequent reports stated that his throat was slit with a sharp weapon.

Ram's driver, who was also abducted, was later set free. The FCI officer's son was reported to have received a ransom call of Rs 21 crore from the abductors.

Mr Mahanta pointed out that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had himself assured of Ram's safety. Besides, his ministerial colleagues and other state officers had also claimed that the FCI executive director was safe and the security forces were closing in on the abductors.

The former chief minister said, ''The Chief Minister's false assurance speaks much about the functioning of the government.'' He accused the state government of being an 'irresponsible' one and without a leader.

''Statements are being issued by unauthorised persons, as was in the case of Ram's killing also.'' Highlighting that no representative of the state government was present at Ram's funeral or when his body was recovered, Mr Mahanta said, ''The government should have acted in a more responsible manner.'' Though the FCI has assured that its functioning would not be affected in the region due to the incident, the workers have expressed fear over continuing work there.

The employees had observed a day-long cease work in protest against the killing.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary have been summoned to New Delhi to discuss the matter. As Mr Gogoi is on an overseas trip, his senior most Cabinet colleague Bhumidhar Barman is representing the Chief Minister.

UNI