Activist Sanjoy Ghose dead, confirms ULFA

The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom has confirmed the death on Monday of Sanjoy Ghose, the social activist and general secretary of the Association of Voluntary Agencies for Rural Development (North-East).

In a signed statement, ULFA central publicity secretary Mithinga Daimari said Ghosh died when he fell down from a hilltop somewhere in Arunachal Pradesh.

Daimari said it was unfortunate that when Ghose was about to be released, he tried to escape from ULFA custody and died after falling off the hill. Ghose was abducted on July 4 from the Majuli river island where he was involved in developmental work.

He apologised to Ghose's wife and family, international human rights organisations and prominent citizens like Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama who had appealed for the activist's release. The ULFA official blamed the army for the accident.

"Had the army not killed our member and guide Apurba Goswami and had pressure not been exerted, then Ghose and the ULFA cadres would not have retreated to the dangerous hill slopes. Sanjoy tried to escape then," Daimari claimed.

The army had wind of Ghose's death when it intercepted a radio message between Raju Baruah and Mithinga Daimari on Monday evening. The message directed Daimari to issue a statement about Ghose's death.

Major General V K Sawhney, the GOC 4 Corps commander, told Star News on Tuesday night that the army had information that Ghose had died in ULFA custody.

Earlier, the ULFA said it would release Ghose if AVARD wound up its operations in Assam and apologised to the people for any wrong-doing the NGO had unwittingly committed. AVARD had complied with this request and withdrawn from Assam 24 hours after ULFA made its demand.

UNI

EARLIER REPORTS::
Conflicting reports about fate of ULFA hostage
For The Release Of Sanjoy Ghose
AVARD wraps up operation in Assam