Assam: DGP Suspects Grenade Blast as Diversion Amid 'Cash-for-Jobs' Scandal Probe

GUWAHATI: In a curious turn of events in Assam, Director General of Police G P Singh expressed concern over a grenade blast outside an Army camp in Tinsukia district. The incident occurred on the same day when officials implicated in the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) 'cash-for-jobs' scam were apprehended. G P Singh labeled the explosion a "strange coincidence," suggesting it could be a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the ongoing investigation.

Two unidentified individuals on motorcycles lobbed a grenade near the gates of the Army camp in Dirak, Tinsukia. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Simultaneously, arrests were made in connection with the APSC scandal, with two APS officials taken into custody and another detained on subsequent days.

Director General G P Singh took to social media, stating, "This looks like an attempt to draw attention...away from the APSC scam investigation." He assured that efforts would be made to identify and punish those responsible for the blast and any other attempts to derail the investigation.

In relation to the grenade blast, one person has been arrested, claiming the involvement of a ULFA (I) militant. A manhunt has been initiated to apprehend the alleged militant. Meanwhile, the Assam government has initiated departmental proceedings against 34 officials from the 2013 APS batch implicated in the 'cash-for-jobs' scam. Similar actions are being taken against candidates from the 2014 batch who allegedly gained selection through unfair means.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in September, directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Additional Director General of Police Munna Prasad Gupta to investigate the scam thoroughly. The SIT has been given six months to submit its report to the Gauhati High Court in a sealed envelope.

The APSC has been entangled in the 'cash-for-jobs' scandal since 2016, resulting in the arrest of nearly 70 individuals, including former chairman Rakesh Kumar Paul and 57 civil services officials. The state government has taken stringent action, dismissing 57 people selected for civil services in 2013 and 2014. The investigation continues, aiming to uncover the depth of the corruption and hold all involved parties accountable.

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