Assam’s Abub Ahmed Mazumdar attends foundation ceremony of court, dines with minister; Opposition in Mizoram irked over alleged Mafia’s presence in delegation

Business tycoon or mafia? Abub Ahmed Mazumdar is a tale of many chapters. His fans say he is a great example of rags to riches while his critiques say he is a mafia. In the month of March, Abub Mazumdar was making headlines as his house in Itkhola, Silchar was raided and sealed by Cachar Police. Mazumdar was accused to be the mastermind of the Burmese areca nut smuggling nexus.

This nexus smuggle nuts that arrive in India from international markets like Indonesia and Burma through the porous borders of Mizoram. From Mizoram it enters Assam using Cachar as a safe gateway for the illegal transportation of the consignment. Then it reaches Guthka factories across India and Bangladesh. So, what’s illegal? The entire journey for an international consignment involves several layers of taxation worth crores. The nexus manages to bypass the taxation system forcing India’s Central and State Government losses worth millions. Not only that, it floats unaccounted cash in the market that lures in talented youth to join the cartel. Burmese supari business is worth several hundred cores of black money that gets shared to many top offices.

After Himanta Biswa Sarma became the chief minister in 2021, he empowered the SPs to take action against such nexuses. Ramandeep Kaur, the former SP of Cachar launched an operation that the local media named, “Operation All Out”. She raided territories that were considered untouchable and one of them was the multistory mansion of Abub Ahmed Mazumdar.

Soon after his house was raided, the Cachar Police announced that they have gathered substantial evidence to establish Abub Mazumdar is one of the key accused in the case registered in Silchar PS after the seizure of a huge consignment of areca nuts. It was clear that he would be arrested and Altaf Hussain, Zakir Hussain, Zakir Laskar and many others were already behind the bars. Barak Bulletin, back then published an image of Abub Mazumdar sitting with the Mizoram contingent while the Chief Minister of Assam met his counterpart, chief minister of Mizoram, Pu Zoramthanga.

Moment after the Barak Bulletin Exclusive, the Mizoram government reacted with a press statement that Abub Mazumdar was not a part of the Mizoram delegation and Assam Government rebutted stating that he wasn’t invited by the Assam Government. It was one photograph that revealed the coziness between the alleged mafia and the CM of Mizoram.

Today, Barak Bulletin got access to another image that shows Abub Mazumdar, who is out on bail, dinning with the minister of Mizoram. This photograph has also sparked a controversy. The opposition in Mizoram, ZPM is demanding the MNF Party and FCS&CA Minister to clarify the relation between the infamous smuggler and the government.

TBC Lalvenchhunga PAC Member, ZPM Party, mentioned in a press statement, “It has been viral in the social media that known smuggler of Assam, who is released on bail, had attended foundation stone laying ceremony of Kolasib District Fast Track Court on September 26, in the presence of FCS&CA Minister Mr K Lalrinliana at Kolasib and also there’s widely circulated image which allegedly shows Abub Majumdar having meals at the house of the said Minister. It is known that this person had attended meeting between CM of Assam and Mizoram held last year to find amicable solution on border disputes.”

The press statement adds, “The Mizoram government confirmed that M/S Agri Fresh Trading Co owned by Abub Majumder is also approved supplier of food grains to the Mizoram government in the Assembly Session held in March 2022. When verifying with the Court authority today, Mr Majumder was not in the list of invitees. So, we ask the government on whose instruction or invitation the said person attends official event time and again and be seen among officials, who sponsored his ILP and how did he end up here in Mizoram on such occasion. In spite of the fact that the Assam government had filed cases of smuggling against this person and knowing that his involvement in illegal activities, how Majumder keeps on featuring among high officials and functions is the questions among the public.”

The opposition party has also asked the government to clarify Abub Ahmed Majumder’s relation with the government and why his contract has not been terminated yet after all that has surfaced against him.  

As far as the court proceedings against Mazumdar, who was arrested in March, the High Court order states, “Having heard the submissions of learned Advocates of both sides, I have carefully gone through the petition and the documents placed on record and also perused the case diary with the assistance of Mr. Borthakur, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State respondent, it appears that the I.O has achieved substantial progress in the investigation and that the applicant also appeared before the I.O. and his statement has been recorded and in the interest of investigation his custodial interrogation seems to be unwarranted in the interest of investigation and accordingly, this Court is inclined to make the interim order dated 04.03.2022 absolute in the same terms and conditions.”

On March 4, he was granted anticipatory bail which was later made absolute. In India, you are innocent until you are proven guilty. However, in the case of Abub Mazumdar, it remains unknown if he innocent or guilty as he is always surrounded by mysteries.