Assam: Rabha Bodies Protest, Block NH-17 Demanding Justice For SI Junmoni Rabha

GUWAHATI: Sub-inspector Junmoni Rabha’s untimely death has continued to cause a stir across Assam, as hundreds of members belonging to several Rabha organisations blocked the National Highway 17, again on Wednesday.

The blockades were organised at Sakhati and Bamunigaon in Kamrup Rural District simultaneously. Rabha bodies had earlier held a protest on May 19 and shot off a memorandum to Assam Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, demanding punishment for those responsible for Junmoni Rabha’s death and aid for her family.

On Wednesday, the All Rabha Student’s Union (ARSU), Sixth Schedule Demand Committee (SSDC), All Rabha Women Council (ARWC), Rabha Sahitya Sabha and other related organisations participated in a huge protest, causing obstruction to movement of traffic.

Although the police tried to obstruct the protest, the Rabha organisations squatted on NH-17 for around half an hour. They shouted slogans against the state government, Nagaon police, and also former Nagaon superintendent of police Leena Doley.

Kabita Rabha, secretary of ARWC, explained the reason for the protest saying, “Investigation of Junmoni Rabha’s death must be done by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) instead of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).”

Kabita Rabha reminded that soon after the May 19 protest, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced a CBI enquiry into the case but no action has been taken as yet and that the government’s inaction on the matter is subject to suspicion. She also added that interrogation of sub-inspector Abhajyoti Rabha should be carried out by the police in connection with Junmoni Rabha’s death.

ARSU secretary Pradip Rabha said, “Although Junmoni Rabha’s mother submitted a written complaint against many police officers, we have not seen any action taken against them yet.”

Pradip Rabha also requested the people of Assam to light earthen lamps on May 26, which is the day of Junmoni Rabha’s death rituals.

Meanwhile, SSDC Secretary Ashok Rabha alleged that the sub-inspector’s death to be a murder and not an accident as reported. He also stated that former Nagaon SP Leena Doloi was trying to cover up the actual truth.

He also said that all nine Rabha organisations will continue to protest till Junmoni Rabha gets justice.

Earlier, on April 19, various Rabha organisations sent a memorandum, demanding a CBI inquiry into her death, addressed to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma through the Boko Revenue Circle Office.

The memorandum demanded that those involved in the case should be arrested and given exemplary punishment by the state government as per law of the land.

30-year-old Junmoni Rabha, more popularly known by the nicknames of ‘Lady Singham’ and ‘Dabbang cop’, died in the wee hours on May 16, when her car came into a head-on collision with a container truck at Sarubhugia village in Jakhalabandha police station area of Kaliabor sub-division in Nagaon district.

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