15 get jail for funding terror in Assam

2 ex-militants, politician awarded life term

Bijay Sankar Bora

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, May 23

The NIA special court in Guwahati today pronounced life imprisonment to two former militant leaders and a prominent politician in the Rs 1,000-crore terror funding case in Dima Hasao Autonomous Council of Assam, besides handing out jail terms along with fine to 12 others, including government officials.

The NIA special judge handed life imprisonment to the militant outfit Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) commander-in-chief Jewel Garlosa and erstwhile North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council former members Niranjan Hojai and Mohet Hojai, NIA counsel Dilip Das said. The Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) is engaged in peace talks with the Central Government.

Mohet Hojai has been in jail since May 30, 2009, while Garlosa and Niranjan Hojai were out on bail. Both of them are now elected members of the autonomous council in Dima Hasao (erstwhile NCHAC). Niranjan Hojai is an elected member of the BJP.

Huge amount of money was allegedly being siphoned off from the development funds for the NC Hills Council in connivance with contractors and government servants and being sent to the DHD (J) for procurement of arms and ammunition. Das said total 15 persons were convicted in two cases pertaining to siphoning off funds. The rest were handed jail terms ranging from eight to 12 years along with fine. One of the accused, Samir Ahmed, had earlier pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years of imprisonment. Social Welfare Department former Deputy Director RH Khan and former Chief Engineer Karuna Saikia were among the convicted.

As many as 29 AK 47/AK 56 rifles, 13 Singapore-made M-16 rifles, three SLRs, one 9 mm pistol (Baretta), 12 walkie-talkie sets, a telescope (Bushnell) and other weapons, and Rs 1.32 crore in cash were recovered in both the cases.