Suspicion over credibility of petitioner
SHILLONG: The Hynñiewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) has demanded a prompt closure of the case filed by Abhijit Basumatary against the officials allegedly involved in coal racket.
In a statement issued on Monday, HANM said, “We demand that the case should be closed immediately so that the concerned officials are not unduly harassed, and these criminal-minded people (petitioner and supporter) are not allowed to hold the state of Meghalaya for ransom.”
The organisation also expressed suspicion over the conduct of Lokayukta in this case.
According to HANM, reliable inputs indicate that the petitioner and his supporter approached Lokayukta sometime in the month of December and thereafter, both before and after filing the complaint, finalised a deal.
“Interestingly, Abdul Ahad Choudhury (the supporter) recorded those conversations and is flaunting the same in Assam even today. He is claiming that if all illegal businesses are not conducted through him, he will not let anyone else do the same. Otherwise also, it is a settled principle of law and propriety that the judge has to be unbiased and cannot be in touch with either party,” the organisation said.
HANM also expressed doubts over the manner in which the complaint has been taken up, and questioned the reason for Choudhury not filing a complaint himself but using “an Assamese Bodo person (Basumatary) as puppet”.
“However, the manner in which this complaint has been taken up is highly suspicious and appears mala fide as the intent of the petitioner and his supporter named Abdul Ahad Choudhury is highly doubtful. Interestingly, the petitioner, in his petition to Hon’ble Lokayukta, has quoted various documents issued in the name of his supporter Abdul Ahad Choudhury which is unusual. What is the reason that Abdul Ahad Choudhury did not file complaint himself but used an Assamese Bodo person as puppet? The things become very clear when we go into history,” HANM said.
The organisation also alleged that both Basumatary and Choudhury themselves have criminal records, and claimed that the former is not a resident of Dawki.
“Abdul Ahad Choudhury is a resident of Karimganj, Assam and a known criminal with criminal history in Assam, Mizoram as well as Meghalaya. As per reliable information, he forged a death certificate in his own name to get his name removed from a criminal case in Mizoram Court. He has more than 50 cases registered in the district of Karimganj, Assam alone. He is himself a part of coal and betel nut syndicate operating in Assam and suspected to have links to drug mafia in Myanmar as well as terrorist groups in Bangladesh and North East. He has a habit of filing false complaints against government officials to pressurise them to allow his nefarious activities,” HANM alleged.
“Similarly, Abhijit Basumatary is a known coal mafia in Beltola, Guwahati. He is a resident of Tezpur, Assam and settled in Guwahati. He falsely claimed to Hon’ble Lokayukta that he is a resident of Dawki, West Jaintia Hills. He, along with Abdul Ahad Choudhury, is involved in illegal transportation of coal and betel nut in the state of Assam. They were trying to do the same in Meghalaya also and this conspiracy is part of that exercise,” the organisation added.
The organisation also said that the only reason why East Jaintia Hills District is being “targeted” is because the district administration and police have been very strict in this district.
“Almost 600 cases have been registered since 2014 in connection with illegal mining and transportation of coal and huge amount of coal, vehicles, etc. has been seized and hundreds of persons have been arrested. The illegal coal mafia in Assam is suffering a lot due to the proactive approach of the government officials posted in the district. Not only this, the police department has been very active in breaking organised crime syndicates like drugs, illegal infiltration, cattle smuggling, etc. This is the reason for Abdul Ahad Choudhury to lodge this instant complaint so that the government officials become scared and allow his illegal acts,” HANM said.
Basumatary and Choudhury had earlier denied such allegations by stating that they were just to malign their image.
Moreover, during the February 3 hearing, Meghalaya Lokayukta, while referring to the charges of state government against Choudhury, said that “although the state has cited many criminal cases pending against Abdui Ahad Choudhury, the political department has not given the present status of those cases. Without doing so, he has been branded as a habitual offender. Such attitude of the political department is not acceptable. The same is therefore deprecated, for, in the eye of law, an accused is innocent until convicted by a court of law.”
Coal truck seized
Meanwhile, on February 9 around 2:30 am, police detected one truck (ML-04-7334) transporting coal in violation of NGT order at Lad Sutnga. The truck driver, however, managed to escape.