Silchar, Mar 24 : Different tribal bodies have leveled charges of corruption against Ngur Sunthang Hmar, chairman of Barak Valley Hill Tribes Development Council (BVHTDC) and demanded dissolution of the Council.
Barak Valley Headman Association, Cachar Hill People’s Federation, Hmar Students’ Association, Barak Valley Karbi Students’ Association, District Tribal youth Association, Hmar Youth Association, All Assam Tribal Sangha, District Tribal Sangh, Hmar National Union, All Assam Tribal Sangha, Bru Stuents’ Association in a joint memorandum to Dinesh Prasad Goala, Minister of Urban Development and Housing, have alleged that Ngur Sunthang as the Council chairman has been a total failure as he has failed to work in accordance with the provisions of the Council constitution. His functioning, they further alleged, has been reeking with malpractices, corruptions and irregularities.
Citing specific instances and quoting the replies of the Tribal Welfare Minister to the questions of Dr. Rumi Nath, BJP MLA, in the just concluded Budget session of the State Assembly on the functioning of the Council, these bodies have revealed anomalies in respect of implementation of development schemes for the year 2007- 08. According to them, Ngur Sunthang has illegally misused the development fund for renting a house at Guwahati for his elder son to facilitate his higher education. The allegation specifically refers to a 407 truck, an Ambassador car, a Yahama bike and a Bolero GLX with their registered numbers and accused the Chairman of misusing these official vehicles for personal gains.
Listing other barrage of irregularities, these tribal bodies have further alleged that the personal telephone of the chairman at home is being maintained from the Council fund and that he has exerted his power and authority to commit fraud in allocation of development fund to the illiterate headmen of three villages by allotting 10% of the allotted fund.
In view of these corruption against Ngur Sunthang, the tribal bodies have pressed with the minister for immediate dissolution of the Council and its reconstitution vested with more power, function and finance in the greater interest of the tribal people living in the three districts of Barak Valley.
When contacted over telephone, Ngur Sunthang, Chairman, dubbed all these allegations as ‘false’, ‘fabricated’ and ‘concocted’ and attributed malafide intentions of the tribal bodies with the sole objective of maligning him and tarnishing his image before the tribal people. He threw challenge before the tribal bodies which he said were fake and that they are least interested in the socio-economic development of the tribal communities. He said, “I am prepared to face any inquiry to investigate the allegations” and confidently added, “all these will come out as totally groundless”. He also told Dinesh Prasad Goala to cause any probe that he thinks proper. It is to be recalled that the Barak Valley Hill Tribes Development Council was constituted in 1996 for the well being and welfare of tribal communities of Barak Valley.