Govt, Council clash over politician-militant nexus

Guwahati, May 23 (UNI) The spate between the Assam Congress and ruling coalition of the North Cachar Autonomous Council continued even today with both accusing each other of having a nexus with the Dimasa militants.

The state government yesterday ordered an inquiry into the alleged nexus between the Black Widow militants and Autonomous State Demand Committee(ASDC) in the NC Hills.

Addressing a press conference here today, ASDC president Somang Kro welcomed the order saying that the inquiry should start from 1992.

''Let the people of Assam know who was behind the creation of the militant forces in the district,'' Mr Kro said. He was flanked by other ASDC leaders like Prasanta Warisa and Mohit Hojai.

The controversy surrounding allegations of a politician-militant nexus in the district took a serious turn with the state government claiming of 'strong evidence' to indict at least three top leaders of the ruling autonomous council.

''The government is keeping a close vigil on the NC Hills leaders and the police has been instructed to make a case against them based on the available evidence,'' government spokesperson and Cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sharma said.

The NC Hills leaders, who face charges of having links with the militant outfits like NSCN (IM) and DHD(J), the one responsible for killing at least 25 people in the past week, are Deepolal Hojai, Prakanta Warisa and Mohet Hojai.

Dr Sharma has also exhibited a written 'contract' between the ASDC, signed by Mr Warisa, and NSCN(IM) 'Lt Gen' V S Atem on April one, 2006, wherein the party had sought 'cooperation and help' from the outfit for contesting the Council election.

The minister also pointed out that four senior Congress leaders were killed after the 'contract' was inked but not a single ASDC candidate was hurt.

Another evidence, that indicted the leaders, was a judicial statement by arrested DHD(J) top gun Action Dimasa, which stated that the outfit had collected and stored ammunition at Deepolal Hojai's residence.

Besides, mobile phones records of other arrested Dimasa militants showed long and daily telephonic conversations with these leaders, Dr Sharma added.

UNI MT PP KLC1505