Guwahati, Aug. 18: Ending months of speculation, Tripura DGP G.M. Srivastava today deposed before the commission probing the so-called secret killings that rocked Assam between 1998 and2001.
The 57-year-old Assam-Meghalaya cadre IPS officer, who was the inspector general (operations) of Assam Police when the killings of Ulfa kin and sympathisers took place, told the K.N. Saikia Commission that he had no role in the “heinous” act.
Srivastava, after attributing the delay in appearing before the commission to pressing official engagements, repeatedly blamed his then official designation for the popular perception of his involvement in the “secret killings”.
“I functioned under the DGP and was not an independent entity. As IGP (operations), I controlled the movement of forces as per the requirement of the field units (district SPs) with the approval of the DG and also co-ordinated with security personnel. I joined as IGP (operations) in April 1998 and was later promoted to additional DGP (operations). Because of the designation, an impression has gathered ground that I may be behind all this. I must say the word operations became a bane. Earlier, the post was known as IGP (law and order),” Srivastava said during the questioning session that lasted nearly six hours at the Circuit House.
The officer was questioned on the killing of Mithinga Daimary’s family members in Barama (1998), the Rajeev Koch-Rajesh Mishra killing case (1999), the Ananta Kalita case (1999) and the alleged use of Sulfa against their former colleagues.
On whether the Sulfa, in nexus with the government, carried out the killings of family members of Ulfa top guns, Srivastava said, “I don’t subscribe to the view that the Sulfa and state authorities joined hands for such heinous acts. And as a member of civil society I don’t support killing by anybody, ” he said.
After the marathon hearing, Justice K.N. Saikia said the witness (Srivastava) been discharged subject to be recalled as and when required. The commission whose term ends on August 21, has sought its second extension of six months.
