Home dept to file memo on SIT report in Pak nat’l case

Guwahati: Assam cabinet on Tuesday directed state home and political department to place a formal cabinet memorandum on Feb 7, indicating further steps they want to take regarding the SIT report on Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh’s anti-India activities.

The SIT also probed alleged Pakistani links of Assam PCC president and Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi and his wife Elizabeth, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said.


He added that the cabinet on Tuesday informally discussed the SIT report. “In the cabinet, the SIT gave proof of a direct Pakistan link of 3 people — Ali Taqeer Sheikh, Elizabeth Gogoi and Gaurav Gogoi. Our cabinet minister were quite surprised after seeing the presentation,” Sarma said.

“After going through the presentation, the cabinet directed the home and political department to place a formal memorandum on Feb 7, indicating further steps they wanted to take. The cabinet also authorised the chief minister, in his capacity as home minister, to reveal whatever was possible before the press on Feb 8 at 10:30 am,” Sarma added. “For common people, this will be a very important sensitive document,” he said.

Whether the state home department wants to hand over the case to NIA or the Union home ministry will be mentioned in the cabinet decision on Feb 7. “After Feb 8, it will be up to govt of India to take the case ahead,” he said.

The state cabinet on Feb 17 last year constituted a SIT to investigate anti-India activities of Sheikh and his associates.

Among other cabinet decisions, it was decided that panchayat members will also get medical reimbursement and get cashless treatment benefits. He said 30,000 panchayat representatives will benefit.

“The cabinet has approved to allow the registration of persons of the Moran community living in Arunachal Pradesh bordering Assam, possessing a valid Permanent Residence certificate (PRC) and OBC certificates issued from govt of Assam, in the Employment Exchanges of Tinsukia District, in relaxation of the residence verification norms,’ a release read.

The cabinet has approved the consideration of executive order on reservation of 1 post to the Chutia community each in ACS Junior Grade and APS Junior Grade recruitment within the OBC quota for the next five Combined Competitive Examinations.

“The cabinet approved the raising of a loan amounting to Rs. 200.36 crore by Assam govt from NABARD for 27 projects sanctioned under RIDF-XXXI against animal husbandry & veterinary and border protection & development department.”