Youth implicating Zoiinath is not ultra: Cops

Meanwhile, documents available to The Indian Express have also revealed that both the police as well as the Army had in the past certified Rakesh Baruah as a `source’.

One of the documents, a certificate issued by one Major PC Balwadi, officiating adjutant of the 12 Bihar Regiment, on June 3, 1994 clearly mentions Rakesh Baruah as one of the seven Army `sources’ in the district.

“The undermentioned SULFA (surrendered ULFA) are working for us as our sources, you are requested to please speak to Adjutant 12 Bihar before anyone of them is picked up,” the document, meant for the 26 Maratha Light Infantry unit deployed elsewhere in Darrang district in 1994, said.

The document has names of seven youths, of which the name of Rakesh Baruah figures at the end.

Another document, again a certificate issued by the then SP of Darrang, R K Singh (who was killed by ULFA militants in May, 1996) also refers to Rakesh Baruah as an informer of the police.

The FIR, which was lodged by Captain P Saha, officiating adjutant of the 313 Field Regiment on October 23 in the Mangaldoi Police station had quoted Rakesh Baruah saying that Revenue Minister Sharma had “strong links” with the ULFA. Baruah has been mentioned in the FIR as an ULFA activist and cultural secretary of its Darrang unit. The FIR had raked up a major controversy and embarrassed the Mahanta Government which has taken a tough stand on the ULFA issue, and several quarters including the Congress had demanded immediate dismissal of the Minister.

Sharma on his part has pleaded innocent and even termed the FIR as a conspiracy to malign him and the Asom Gana Parishad-led Government.