GUWAHATI: "May we think of
freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what
is right."_ Peter Marshall
If a single word of this great quote is true, then perhaps the rage and anger of the residents of Goalpara is well justified when they woke up in shock on Wednesday morning to witness a severely vandalized statue of Mahatma Gandhi. What's more shocking is that July 28 is celebrated as the Desh Bhakti Divas throughout the state.
A six feet statue of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi was vandalized by a group of unknown miscreants. The 20 years old statue of the nation's father is located in the BOC point of Assam's Goalpara town.
Public outrage was evident as the heinous hate crime has sparked resentment amongst the people who came to pay homage on the occasion of Desh Bhakti Diwas. An immediate investigation has also been demanded into this unspeakable act and locals are of the view that the Criminal Bureau of Investigation (CBI) must investigate the matter on a fast track basis.
Speaking to the media, the irked locals said a group of miscreants took the opportunity of the night and vandalized the two-decade-old gigantic statue of Mahatma Gandhi on July 26, just two days before Desh Bhakti Divas. They further alleged that due to the unavailability of Closed-Circuit television (CCTV) within the vicinity of the area prompted the miscreants to commit the ultimate unpatriotic act that has hurt the sentiments of the people on this auspicious day.
Meanwhile the local police said that the investigation into the matter is on and no arrests have been made so far. "The biggest obstacle that we are facing is the unavailability of any witness or CCTV near the area. We are still asking people around and our sources have been placed in action to pass forward any important investigation pertaining to this heinous crime," said an official of the Goalpara police who wished to remain unidentified.
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