Probe ACA anomalies: AASU

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, July 12: Raising the heat on the Assam Cricket Association (ACA), the All Assam Students Union today demanded a high-level inquiry into the alleged anomalies in the sports body while former State cricketers took to the streets again demanding ouster of controversial ACA secretary Bikash Baruah.

"We demand a high-level inquiry into the allegations of corruption and irregularities in the ACA. There should be reforms in the association which should be reconstituted with sportsmen and sports organizers," AASU president Dipanka Kumar th said.

Referring to the irregularities in players' stipend and allegations of massive corruption in the construction of the Barsapara stadium, the AASU president said exemplary punishment should be handed down to the guilty.

The AASU, he said, has always been opposing politicians holding positions in sports bodies and magement committees of educatiol institutions. "Following our agitation, politicians are now moving out of school and college magement bodies. We will be forced to take to streets again if politicians continue to hold positions in sports bodies," th said.

He said the student body has received information about anomalies in player selection and misappropriation of money sanctioned for the players. "It is strange that the State government and the ACA magement has not made their stands clear so far," the AASU leader said. Meanwhile, several former players today marched from Dighalipukhuri to Nehru Stadium protesting against the mismagement in ACA. Holding placards and banners, the former cricketers demanded immediate removal of ACA secretary Bikash Baruah.  Former cricketers Hemanga Barua, Sajjad Zaheer Hussain and Salil Sinha were among those who joined the protest. Later, the players conducted a protest meeting in front of the ACA office.