Interview with CBI SP Alok K. Sahay on 34 Burmese on trial

Mizzima News: 08 December, 2006

Thirty four Burmese, a majority of them members of the Arakan Army, the military wing of the National Unity Party of Arakan, are facing trail in Kolkata. They were charged with gun running after their arrest in 1998. The pro-democracy rebels claimed that they were betrayed by Indian military intelligence after being used by them for several years to spy on Chinese naval activity on the Burmese coast. Mizzima correspondent in Kolkata interviewed Mr. Alok K. Sahay, Superintendent of Police of India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on November 27 regarding the case.

Mizzima: What is the status of the case?

Alok K. Sahay: It is sub-judice.

Mizzima: What are the basic inputs in this case? Has any FIR been filed by the authorities?

Alok K. Sahay: Yes. An FIR has been filed by the naval authorities.

Mizzima: Please tell us a little about it.

Alok K. Sahay: They were among 73 people apprehended in Andaman during a joint tri-services operation in 1998 and were in possession of a lot of arms and ammunition. Six persons actually died during the operation and during investigations it was found that 37 persons -- fishermen, were forced to accompany them. So accordingly they were sent back. A case was initiated and trial began against the remaining 36. Of the 36, two escaped from Civil Custody. So, 34 are facing trial. They requested shifting of the trial from Port Blair to Kolkata. Regarding this they moved a petition in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court after hearing the entire matter allowed their prayer with the condition that they remain in judicial custody in Kolkata. Accordingly they were brought here and now they are facing trial.

Mizzima: Why did the CBI take six years to file charge sheets against the accused?

Alok K. Sahay: You see they are foreign nationals. Their antecedents had to be verified first. Whether they were involved or were terrorists or not and what their actual defence was. It was also necessary to ascertain whether they were genuine. Lots of items were seized. And that had to be verified. Things like whether they were explosives and their type and the items they were carrying. So many things were there.

Mizzima: High security is being considering in the Court premises .Is there a proposal to set up a Special Court inside the jail like in the Aftab Ansari case?

Alok K. Sahay: That we have already moved.

Mizzima: Tell us about it.

Alok K. Sahay: We have already moved the state government, citing security reasons among other things. And we hope that the state administration will consider our request. Our senior officers have already met higher authorities. And we have also moved a petition.

Mizzima: During the last hearing the Court directed the CBI to appoint an interpreter from an independent agency. Is there any progress on that?

Alok K. Sahay: We are on the job. We are hopeful we will be able to get an interpreter.

Mizzima: Retd. Col. B J S Grewal is said to be involved in this case. So is he to be questioned?

Alok K. Sahay: I cannot comment on this. The matter is sub-judice.

Mizzima: The CBI has urged the Government of India and the Ministry of Defence so many times to allow it to question him. Is this true?

Alok K. Sahay: All these came up during the hearing in Supreme Court. I have nothing to add to it.