GUWAHATI, March 31 – The report of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that had probed the alleged involvement of public servants of NC Hills district in misappropriation of government funds and their criminal misconduct, was tabled at the State Assembly today.

In the report, the NIA noted that the funds allocated to several departments for the purpose of providing safe drinking water, roads, and social security schemes were defalcated and transferred, retarding seriously the development of NC Hills.

The NIA report mentioned that the ‘benefits’ given by contractor Jayanta Kumar Ghosh to Mohit Hojai — the then chief executive member (CEM) of the NC Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) who was elected as CEM “on the specific instructions of Niranjan Hojai, the ‘c-in-c’ of DHD (J) in furtherance to a criminal conspiracy to fulfil the illegal demands of the terrorist outfit – included Rs 15-20 lakh for a flat in Ganeshguri (Guwahati) around a year back, about Rs 25-30 lakh at one time in 2009, and Rs 13 lakh for social welfare work.

The ‘benefits’ to Prakanta Warisa by Ghosh included Rs 15-20 lakh in instalments of Rs 1-2 lakh, and Rs 10 lakh for PHE work.

The ‘benefits’ to Depolal Hojai, the predecessor of Mohit Hojai, from Ghosh comprised a Ford Endeavour vehicle (Rs 20-22 lakh) in May-July-2008, a pistol in Kolkata (Rs 15 lakh) against a receipt of only Rs 1.5 lakh or Rs 70,000, a Goa-Mumbai trip before Puja 2008 and another Kashmir trip before Puja-2008, necklace etc., for Hojai’s wife, and Rs 40-50 lakh for PWD works in 2008.

The report said that government funds worth crores of rupees of several departments such as PWD, PHE, Social Welfare, DRDA, Agriculture and Soil Conservation were misappropriated and pocketed by council members, government servants and contractors. “A large part of the funds also reached the DHD (J) as part of the criminal conspiracy.”

The details of the arrests made and the present status in this connection are: Phojendra Hojai (on bail), Babul Kemprai (on bail), Mohit Hojai (in judicial custody), RH Khan (on bail), Jewel Garlosa (judicial custody), Ashringdao Waris (judicial custody), Samir Ahmed (judicial custody), Vanlachhana (judicial custody), Malaswmkimi (judicial custody), George Lawmthang (judicial custody), Niranjan Hojai (absconding), Jayanta Kumar Ghosh (judicial custody), Debashis Bhattacharjee (judicial custody), and Sandip Ghosh (judicial custody).

The report noted that the ASDC party was elected to power in the council in 2007 in alliance with the BJP. “The ASDC had the tacit support of the DHD (J) and Depolal Hojai became the CEM. Depolal Hojai was not able to fulfil the illegal demands of the DHD (J) regarding supply of funds for procurement of arms and for carrying out the terror activities which was not liked by the DHD (J) leadership. In furtherance to the criminal conspiracy, on 26.11.08, Mohit Hojai was elected as CEM on specific instructions of Niranjan Hojai…”