By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Guwahati: Priya Basumatary was just another village girl living happily with her parents in the Dwimuguri locality under Runikhata police station in Chirang district in Assam. But one afternoon the 16 year old girl fell prey to the barbaric act of armed militants.
The militants loyal to Songbijit faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) killed the girl in the presence of her parents and others villagers suspecting her to be an informer. According to the banned outfit it was a reply to police operation against them a few days back which witnessed killing of five of its militants.
Priya Basumatary’s file photo
Though the state government has announced of instituting a bravery award in the name of Priya Basumatary and also announced Rs 20 lakh for the family, Priya’s parents, who are undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bongaigaon, refused to accept the state government’s help.
“She was not an informer but the militants killed her mercilessly. They beat us badly and broke my wife’s arm. We are scared to go back to our village. This award and money can’t bring back our child,” said Niral Basumatary, Priya’s father.
Now, it’s to be seen how the government reacts to this even as the entire state is protesting and condemning the barbaric act.
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi directed the police to launch a massive manhunt to arrest the killers of the 16-year-old girl, who was a class IX student at Runikhata Girls’ High School. But various organizations, political parties and individuals feel that it was too late to react for such a gruesome act.
All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) general secretary (organization) Aminul Islam said that it was a matter of serious concern that such killing has taken place in the state. He said that the body of Priya Basumatary was left lying at the spot of her execution for close to 48 hours after her murder.
Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has moved the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) blaming the state government of having failed to protect human rights of common people in the state.
“Even after the brutal killing of the girl, police allegedly did not visit the place for two days nor did they send her body for post-mortem. The state government didn’t provide any security to her family and other villagers. This is a clear violation of human rights,” said AGP general secretary Kamala Kalita in his complaint.
Other organizations like All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) also have condemned the killing and urged the government to act immediately.
ABSU president Pramod Boro urged the militants to abstain from the act of killing of innocent people in the name of revolution.
All Bodo Women’s Welfare Federation (ABWWF) and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) also carried out protest rallies condemning the incident.
On Monday, the opposition MLAs in the ongoing state assembly, raised the issue and appealed the government to do the needful to stop such barbaric act of militant outfits.
AIUDF’s MLA Abdur Rahim Khan said that everywhere in the state, people are getting killed by miscreants. He said that it’s time to act or to step down for the government.