DERGAON, June 1 - Despite considerable time having elapsed following the State government issuing its order, the probe report of the hooch tragedy in Golaghat and Jorhat districts is still pending submission.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had constituted an inquiry committee with the Commissioner of Upper Assam Division Julie Sonowal as the chairperson on February 22. The Chief Minister had then asked the Commissioner to submit her report within 30 days. But no report has been submitted even after 82 days have elapsed.
Julie Sonowal started the public hearing regarding the tragedy at Golaghat Circuit House on February 28 and completed other aspects too. But no report has been submitted till date.
In spite of several attempts, Commissioner Julie Sonowal could not be contacted.
However, on being contacted, the Special Officer (SO) to the Commissioner of Upper Assam Division and Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Jorhat Dr Jayanta Goswami told this Correspondent that the inquiry has been completed by the Commissioner.
�As the Commissioner was on election duty outside the State, so there was delay in submission of the report,� Goswami said.
�The government has added one month extra time to submit the report�, he added. �But the report will be submitted within a short time�, the ADC further stated.
The confidential assistant (CA) of the Commissioner, Atul Dutta said that the report would be submitted as the election process is now over.
�As the Commissioner was busy with election duty, so the submission of the report was delayed,� Dutta said.
�Again, the Commissioner is busy with some important official duties such as conduct of civil service examination, etc. However, the report will be submitted within a short time, the CA said.
�I submitted the preliminary report on the incident to the Deputy Commissioner within a week. But the status of the final report is not known to me,� said Dhiraj Das, ADC of Golaghat, who assisted the Commissioner during the public hearing at Golaghat.
In the meantime, the Excise Department revealed in Guwahati that the report would be submitted within a short time.
It may be mentioned here that 41 people have been so far chargesheeted in the hooch tragedy case in Golaghat district. Golaghat Police tabled the chargesheet at the district session court in Golaghat on May 30.
The 1,000-page case diary pointed out 41 people as accused, while 65 others were identified as witnesses. The court fixed June 11 for hearing of the case.
