Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday alleged that the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) led by the arrested RTI activist and farmers' leader, Akhil Gogoi, had links with Maoists.
Mr. Akhil Gogoi was arrested in connection with the June 22 incidents in the city during a protest programme seeking halt to eviction of city hill settlers led by him. Now under judicial custody, he is undergoing treatment at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. Three persons, including a nine-year-old school boy, were killed in police firing after the protesters went on the rampage.
The Chief Minister told journalists here that two KMSS activists had been trained by Maoists in Orissa and were later arrested. He claimed the KMSS had also links with two front organisations of the banned ULFA — Asom Chatra Yuva Sangathan and Chah Janajati Suraksha Samiti. According to him, during the June 22 protest, the KMSS had adopted Maoist tactics and its cadres were armed with sticks. Mr. Gogoi said that he had seen video footage and was now awaiting the findings of the one man probe committee. The government would take action on the basis of the findings, he added.
The Chief Minister announced that over the next five years the government would provide houses for the homeless, especially those hit by flood and erosion. Mr. Gogoi said the government was in favour of giving land holding rights to all those families, which had settled on the city hills at least 15 years back. It was also in favour of giving some relaxation to tribal families as well as those displaced by flood and erosion.
He, however, did not favour giving such land rights to those who were not landless and those who could afford to buy a plot of land. He said a committee headed by the former Revenue Minister, Bhumidhar Barman and which comprises civil society representatives would go into the issue and suggest measures.
The Chief Minister said compensation would be given to those affected in the June 22 incidents.
