Ruling coalition of NC Hills accuse Congress of instigating violence

Guwahati, May 21 (UNI) The ruling coalition of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous District Council (NCHADC) today alleged that the Congress was involved in a nexus with Dimasa militants and was instigating violence.

Addressing a press conference here, the ruling coalition counter-attacked Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, saying the Congress was the ''genesis of terrorism in the NC Hills district.'' The NCHADC is run by the coalition of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The coalition routed the Congress and came to power in January this year.

''The Congress should know how to sit in the Opposition instead of maligning our image by linking us to the Black Widow militants.

However, everyone in the NC Hills district knows who is supporting the militants,'' Chief Executive Member of the Council Depolal Hojai said.

Earlier, at a press conference yesterday, Mr Gogoi had accused the coalition of being involved in a nexus with the insurgents and siphoning off the Council's public money to the militants.

''We have documentary proof and we are launching an inquiry into it,'' Mr Gogoi said.

The allegations were refuted by the coalition.

''We came to power five months back. Where was the money? They should launch an inquiry into the matter of their MLA and former Minister G C Langthasa being the founding figure of all the terrorism happening in the district. For years the Congress has been funding militancy in the district,'' Executive Member of the Council Mohit Hojai said.

He also alleged that in 2004 Congress Ministers had sheltered Jewel Garlosa, whose faction was now wreaking havoc in the NC Hills district.

''What is the harm in accepting the ceasefire condition announced by the militants? Either you eliminate them or you accept the ceasefire,'' he asserted.

''There are 41 companies of para-military forces in the district.

However, there has been no success in defeating the rebels. So better come to ceasefire as the terrain is inhospitable and security forces are incapable,'' another Executive Member Kulendu Daulagapu said.

Meanwhile, in the NC Hills district, the situation was somewhat peaceful now with no reports of any untoward incidents since the past three weeks.

However, the rail and road transport in the district had not yet resumed, resulting in shortage of essential commodities.

''The state government should take initiatives for peace process with the Black Widow group of militants, besides resuming railway services in the Lumding-Badarpur section and lifting of economic blockade by the truck drivers at Lanka and Lumding,'' head of the coalition Prakanta Warisa said.

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