GUWAHATI, July 9: The abduction of Sanjay Ghosh, general secretary of the Association of Voluntary Agencies for Rural Development, North-East, (AVARD-NE), is part of a larger conspiracy by corrupt officials, unscrupulous contractors and similar elements, sources in the NGO revealed here today.

Ghosh, who became famous by rendering yeoman's service during a major outbreak of malaria in Rajasthan, a few years ago, arrived in Assam three years back at the initiative of a local IAS officer for starting welfare works in flood-affected Majuli, the largest river island of the world.

Though Ghosh's arrival was initially welcomed by everyone, he soon attracted the ire of a section of people who were allegedly involved in the misappropriation of funds meant for rural development and flood control measures, sources alleged.

Last year, Ghosh organised a shramdaan, in which nearly 20,000 people took part for construction of anti-erosion embankments. This brought the NGO into direct confrontation with certain govt agencies and the ULFA was the easiest instrument to be used against it.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.