Guwahati (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday accused Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi of visiting Pakistan clandestinely in 2013 without informing the authorities, and it is suspected that he had undergone “some kind of training there”.

At a press conference here ahead of the assembly elections in the state, Sarma also charged the Congress leader’s British wife Elezabeth with collecting information about India while working at a firm in this country, and send those to Pakistan.

She had also been to Pakistan nine times while working in two Indian organisations, the Assam CM alleged.

ALSO READ:  Kolkata Metro railway services disrupted in Blue line as passenger jumps before train

The Assam government had constituted an SIT to inquire into the alleged anti-India conspiracy of Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, in connivance with Gogoi, also the state Congress chief, and his wife.

The SIT submitted its report to Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, on September 10, the date initially set by the chief minister for providing evidence to support his accusations against Gogoi.

“We believe a deeper connection among Gaurav, his wife, and Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. We recommend a probe by a central agency,” said Sarma.

A Pakistani firm gave Elizabeth a job, then transferred her to India; though her salary was paid by Sheikh, he claimed.

Sarma and the BJP have been attacking Gogoi, who also heads the state Congress, over his wife's alleged connection with Pakistan's spy agency ISI.

The Assam cabinet on Saturday decided to refer the case of Gogoi’s alleged Pakistan links to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Bengaluru (PTI): A 36-year-old woman, who went trekking at Tadiandamol hills in Kodagu district, has gone missing inside the forest. Additional personnel and drone cameras have been deployed to search for her, Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said on Sunday.

He said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, expressing concern about the young woman's disappearance, instructed that search operations be intensified.

G S Sharanya had come alone from Kerala for the trek and stayed at a private homestay in Kakkabe village.

She had gone to the high mountain range of Tadiandamol hills in Kodagu with a guide and 15 other trekkers on April 2. She went missing that afternoon. As soon as the matter was known, five teams of 50 people, including police, the anti-Naxal squad, a dog squad and forest personnel were formed, and are conducting searches, the minister's office said in a statement.

According to Khandre, CM Siddaramaiah expressed concern about the disappearance of the young woman who went on a trek and instructed that additional personnel be deployed for the search.

"Four additional teams of 40 personnel have been deployed today. A total of 9 teams are conducting the search operation. Honest efforts continue to find the missing young woman," he said.

Further noting that, as per reports, the young woman last contacted the homestay by phone on Thursday, stating she had lost her way, the minister said, "Search is being conducted based on her phone location. Local tribal people have also rushed to help, and sophisticated thermal drone cameras have been obtained with an additional team deployed starting today."