Cachar Tribal bodies Gherao DP Goala’s Residence

Silchar, Apr 6 : Around 400 tribal people, mostly youths, under the banner of All Assam Tribal Sangha, an umbrella organization of 11 hill tribes, today gheraoed the residence of Dinesh Prasad Goala, Minister of Urban Development, at Pailapool in Lakhipur subdivision of Cachar, 30 km from here, and demanded probe into the charges of corruption against Ngursunthang Hmar, chairman of the Council and its reconstitution.

The minister, whom a memorandum specifying charges of corruption against the chairman of the Council was submitted a few days ago, assured the agitated tribal bodies that the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar would investigate the allegations of corruption against the chairman and if found true elections will be caused in order to reconstitute the Council.

The Tribal Sangha also presented the minister a copy of resolution adopted unanimously by the 11 hills tribes organizations of Barak Valley which pressed for selection of Thuoma Hmar as chairman and Jamupow Kabui as vice-chairman of the Council for which they sought the intervention of Minister Goala.

In fact, earlier the demonstrators of Tribal Sangha had assembled before the residence of Ngursunthang Hmar at Hmarkhawlein, not very far away, in order to lay siege of his home and hold protest demonstration for his resignation as chairman.

After finding him absent, they proceeded towards the house of Minister Goala and vented their ire against the functioning of Barak Valley Hill Tribes’ Development Council.

The charges of allegations of corruption against Ngur Sungthang Hmar ranged from irregularities, misuse as well as misappropriation of funds for development schemes and projects. All these allegations were vehemently contested and refuted by him.

via The Sentinel