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| Salakati residents take out a rally on Thursday to protest against the murder of a local student and to demand arrest of the killers. Telegraph picture |
Kokrajhar, Sept. 20: People in Kokrajhar and Udalguri districts took out processions today to protest against the killing of a student at Salakati and against illegal migrants.
Hundreds of residents of Salakati in Kokrajhar joined hands to condemn the killing of a student on Tuesday evening. Organised by the Salakati unit of All Bodo Students Union (Absu), students, guardians and local residents took part in the rally carrying placards and shouting slogans demanding immediate arrest of the culprits. A memorandum was also submitted to the Kokrajhar deputy commissioner in this regard.
The body of Gratus Basumatary, 19, a student of ITI Salakati was recovered from Rani Bazar on Tuesday evening. Basumatary was on his way back home in a motorcycle when he was attacked and killed.
In Udalguri, over 15,000 people braved the heavy rain, as they marched from Udalguri stadium to Diamond High School playground at Nwlwbari, shouting slogans like “Bangladeshis go back”, “No patta land, no rehabilitation”, “No resettlement for illegal Bangladeshis”, “Protect tribal belt and blocks”, “Update NRC” and “We Want Justice”.
Members from various organisations, including Absu, AASU, Tribal Sangha, Tribal Youth League, AGSU and others also took part in the rally.
Rwngwra Narzary, Absu adviser, said the very existence of indigenous people was under threat because of the illegal migrants. He demanded the government should make sure that no foreigner was rehabilitated, ensure protection of the tribal belt and blocks by implementing chapter X of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Act, 1886.
The participants also submitted memoranda to the President, Prime Minister, home minister and chief minister through the deputy commissioner, Udalguri, which was accepted by SDO (Sadar) D. Doley.
The memoranda demanded update of NRC, detection and deportation of illegal migrants and proper identification of genuine citizens before rehabilitation of the riot-displaced people Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri.
It also demanded the government to chalk out a policy, including all sections of people for confidence-building measures with a view to restoring peace and normality. It also demanded adequate compensation for reconstruction for those people whose houses were completely burnt or damaged and property loss, proper relief including food, clothes and medical facilities to camp inmates and education for children in the camps.
Curfew relaxed
In view of the improved law and order situation, the Dhubri district administration has relaxed curfew for two hours from today.
Now the curfew will be in force from 8pm to 6am.
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