ULFA threat does not deter Ghosh kin in their search

GUWAHATI, December 25: Abducted social worker Sanjoy Ghosh's wife, Sumita Ghosh, and aunt, Arundhati Ghose, former Indian envoy to the Unit...

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GUWAHATI, December 25: Abducted social worker Sanjoy Ghosh’s wife, Sumita Ghosh, and aunt, Arundhati Ghose, former Indian envoy to the United Nations, are conducting a “private inquiry” into his disappearance.

In their mission to trace his whereabouts, they began to tour Assam last week. Launching their “search” expedition from the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, which borders Assam, they have covered Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts so far. They are scheduled to wind up the first phase of their programme today. After a short respite in Delhi, they plan to comb Upper Assam next month.

Speaking to The Indian Express yesterday, Sumita said, “I strongly believe that my husband is alive. They must be keeping him hostage somewhere”. She added that the “statements issued by the ULFA saying Sanjoy is dead do not have any substance. They are self-contradictory… where is the proof? Can they substantiate their claim that Sanjoy died?”

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Over five months back, Sanjoy Ghosh, founder secretary of the Association of Voluntary Agencies for Rural Development, North-East, (AVARD-NE). was abducted by ULFA militants from near Bongaon in Majuli. The ULFA later claimed that he had fallen off a cliff and died while trying to escape from captivity, a month after his abduction. However, his family believes that he is still being held hostage somewhere.

On the CBI probe ordered by the Government into the abduction, Sumita said: “The Government is doing its duty. As a wife, I am doing mine. I have no comments on the CBI or the Government.”

Meanwhile, Arundhati has expressed surprise at the allegations levelled against her by the ULFA. “I am astonished at the manner in which the ULFA reacted to my visit to the State. They have accused me of launching a campaign against them. What conspiracy can I hatch? I have come here in search of my nephew,” she said.

Last week the ULFA had alleged that Arundhati, in her capacity as India’s envoy to the UN, had carried out a sustained campaign against their “national struggle”. However, she countered that as India’s representative, she had only voiced the country’s policy on disarmament. “It is ridiculous that an armed group like the ULFA, which talks of liberating Assam, is afraid of two unfortunate women like Sumita and myself. Somebody is badly informed…they are badly motivated against me,” she said.