UNVEILED What is ‘secret killing’? The killing of family members and close relatives of Ulfa cadre allegedly by surrendered rebels at the behest of the state machinery. Known as “secret” because in all the cases the identity of the killers has remained a secret. These killings took place during the second AGP rule led by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta Big ‘stories’ which rocked the state Uma Rajkonwar, Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa’s brother, killed in Dibrugarh Family members of then Ulfa publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary killed at Barama Jyotish Sharma, brother-in-law of Ulfa leader Subhash Sharma, killed in Guwahati Several incidents of clashes between the Ulfa and Sulf Probe into killings The Tarun Gogoi government constituted three inquiry commissions to probe the ‘secret killings’ Reports of the first two, Justice Meera Sharma Commission and Justice J.N. Sharma Commission, were never made public The Justice K.N. Saikia commission is still conducting a probe and has so far submitted two reports Congress weapon? The Congress used the ‘secret killings’ as the main plank against Mahanta before the 2001 elections The party’s sustained campaign against Mahanta led to the AGP's ouster from power The Congress had listed several killings as clear ‘secret killings’ in a “chargesheet” it had prepared against the Mahanta government

Guwahati, Jan. 24: The mood around him was that of celebration, but the man of the moment was in no mood to reveal his emotions.

As stoic as ever, former Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta was even reluctant to accept the congratulations extended to him for getting a “clean chit” from the state government on the “secret killings” that allegedly took place during his second tenure as chief minister.

“It is too early,” he said with a chuckle, holding the hand extended to congratulate him.

Mahanta apparently wanted to set aside the celebrations till the final verdict was delivered.

The state government had, in an affidavit before the Supreme Court, stated that allegations of secret killings were all “false and untenable”.

This implies that the election plank, riding on which the Congress had dethroned the Mahanta- led AGP government in 2001, was a political gimmick.

“I don’t want to comment on the matter. The case is still pending in the court,” Mahanta said with a nonchalant smile as he sat in Room No. 10 of the Circuit House with his advocate S.C. Khound.

Incidentally, today was also the date of hearing on a writ petition Mahanta had filed challenging the validity of the K.N. Saikia Commission constituted by the state government to probe into the secret killings.

Mahanta has a reason to be pessimistic. It was the same government, which had dumped the J.N. Sarma Commission report for apparently failing to indict Mahanta in the killings and went on to set up yet another commission.

This time too, it is dilly-dallying to make public the interim report of the K.N. Saikia Commission amid speculation that this panel has also failed to pin down the former chief minister in the “extra judicial” killings.

Mahanta’s close aides, who gathered around him with copies of today’s newspapers that carried the report of government’s affidavit in the Supreme Court, were in no mood to let the moment go without “celebration”.

Purbanchaliya Loka Parishad leader Pabindra Deka and Nationalist Congress Party leader Dhiren Adhikari dropped in, too.

“After all, it is one issue that Congress and his (Mahanta’s) opponents have been using time and again to doom his political career. Now the truth has come out and those shouting against Sir (Mahanta) from the top of their voice have been exposed,” said Manoj Saikia, a close aide.

As expected, sweets were distributed. Another aide wanted to get a gamocha to felicitate Mahanta on his “moral victory” on the issue that has maligned him much.

Mahanta, however, dissuaded the enthusiasts and the celebration stopped even before it could start properly. The broad smiles on their faces, however, said it all.