Hiranya must be booked under NSA: APW

Guwahati, Jun 25 (UNI) The Assam Public Works (APW) today demanded that Hiranya Saikia, who was arrested for links with ULFA, should be booked under the National Security Act (NSA).

''He should also be removed from all positions he holds in the state's sports bodies,'' APW director Abhijit Sharma demanded at a press conference here.

The APW is an organisation formed mostly by families of ULFA cadres and their victims and is working towards exposing the militant and other anti-social threats that emerge in the state, Mr Sharma said.

Saikia was arrested on Sunday for his links with ULFA leaders.

He was also a member of the People's Consultative Group (PCG) that was formed by ULFA two years ago for starting peace parleys with the government, he informed.

Mr Sharma, pointing to Saikia's arrest and another PCG member Lachit Bordoloi for ULFA links, said, ''It shows the dubious character of some of the PCG members and proves that the group did not represent the sentiments of the general people.'' He also demanded the removal of Saikia from the important posts he holds in the Assam Olympic Association and other sporting bodies in the state.

The APW further urged the government to take up the case of disappearance of Pranab Tumung in 2005, on whose father's land Saikia had forcibly built his commercial watch showroom.

UNI SG RH DPM SW HS1547