Abinash (left) and Sanjoy at the ADM’s office. Picture by Main Uddin Chisti

Cooch Behar, April 10: A surrendered KLO militant and a linkman have been running from pillar to post to unravel the red tape that has held up their rehabilitation.

Promised by the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government that all surrendered militants would be rehabilitated, Abinash Adhikary, once among the most wanted KLO militants, and Sanjoy Barman are two frustrated youths.

“When I surrendered, I hoped that the government would fulfil the promise of rehabilitation,” said Abinash.

Sanjoy explained that both had got a bank loan of 3.47 lakh each to buy jeeps. “The rest of the money was to come from the government in the form of subsidies. But since the administration did not grant a subsidy of Rs 99,260 each, the bank was not willing to release the loans.”

“We were even given route permits to ply the vehicles between Mathabhanga and Cooch Behar, ” said Sanjoy

Cooch Behar additional district magistrate (ADM) Pannalal Mahapatra said the rehabilitation schemes were looked after by the youth affairs department and the officer concerned was on leave. “I will talk to him once he joins,” said Mahapatra.

Abinash said he had surrendered 2005. “After getting bail, I joined the rehabilitation camp in 2006. Although the loan was sanctioned in January last year, the bank held it back since I could not produce papers on subsidy.