News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp
Rediff.com  » News » Assam govt to probe alleged diversion of funds to 'Black Widow' ultras

Assam govt to probe alleged diversion of funds to 'Black Widow' ultras

By K Anurag in Guwahati
May 27, 2008 21:00 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
The collusion, if any, between the politicians in power in Assam's North Cachar Hills autonomous district council and the Black Widow alias Dima Halam Daogah-Jewel insurgents is up for a judicial probe as Assam government has decided to institute a probe into the alleged diversion of development funds to the Black Widow militants' coffers.

In the wake of allegations of a nexus between the Black Widow militants and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Autonomous State Demand Committee combine in the NCHADC, the Assam cabinet in an emergency sitting decided to probe the 'diversion of development funds' granted to the autonomous district council to the insurgents' coffers  .

Official sources said that the Cabinet decided to appoint Justice (retired) R K Manisana Singh to conduct the probe. It was the Governor of Assam, Lt Gen (Retired) Ajai Kumar Singh who had initially advised the government to institute a probe into the alleged nexus between the ruling combine and the Black Widow insurgents who have let loose a reign of terror in the area.

As per the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, the Governor of Assam enjoys considerable powers in the administration of the two hill district councils in the state. The Congress-led coalition government in Assam had alleged that Rs 10 crore of development funds granted to the district Council, went to the coffers of the Black Widow group.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also alleged that Black Widow insurgents were receiving help from the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland–Issak Muivah rebels of neighbouring Nagaland besides 'enjoying patronage and support' from the ruling ASDC-BJP coalition in the NCHADC.

Gogoi alleged that the ADC-BJP combine took help of Black Widow ultras to defeat Congress in the last district council election held in the hill district last year.

However, chief executive member of the hill district autonomous council D Hojai and his adviser and former Member of Parliament, Prakanta Warisa countered Gogoi saying that it was the Congress that engineered insurgency in the hill district in 1992.

The ASDC-BJP combine maintains that the responsibility for law and order  rests with the state government, not with the NCHADC authority. "If the state government and its security have failed to control the militants, the responsibility should be handed over to either the Central government of the Council authority," the NCHADC members said while talking to media.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
K Anurag in Guwahati