GUWAHATI, June 14 � Reacting to the Asom Gana Parishad�s criticism that the State Government was misleading people on the issue of �secret killings,� government spokesperson and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that it was the AGP which was beating about the bush in its bid to divert the main issue.
Addressing a press conference, Sarma said that the State Government had never closed the Haque Commission of Inquiry into the kidnapping of Ananta Kalita; rather it expanded the ambit of the inquiry by including all the cases of secret killings though a judicial commission.
�The AGP had constituted the Haque Commission on December 1, 1999 into the alleged kidnapping of Ananta Kalita but later in 2001, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, following a meeting with the editors of the State�s newspapers, decided on a judicial probe covering all the cases of secret killings.� There is, therefore, no question of winding up the probe instituted by the AGP,� Sarma said.
Accusing AGP president and then Chief Minister Prafulla Mahanta of having a hand in the secret killings, Sarma said that Mahanta was yet to be given clean chit in the matter.
�Investigation is still on, and all the evidence goes against Mahanta. He has not been given clean chit as yet,� Sarma said, adding that versions of family members of secret killing victims strongly indicated Mahanta�s involvement.
�As per the deposition of slain SULFA man Trilok Bishnu Talukdar�s wife before the Justice Saikia Commission, Mahanta had sought Rs 1 crore from Talukdar and some other surrendered ULFA members, and was killed within two months of his inability to pay up,� Sarma said.
