Culprits involved in unnatural deaths of 2 tribal girls will be dealt with an iron hand: CM Sarma

UNNATURAL DEATHS OF 2 TRIBAL GIRLS

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday that the culprits involved in the unnatural deaths of two tribal girls at Abhaykhuti under Kokrajhar Police Station would be dealt with an iron hand.

Accompanied by BTC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pramod Boro, the Chief Minister visited the spot of the incident at Abhaykhuti under Kokrajhar police station on Sunday. The two tribal girls, identified as Rubita Rabha (14) and Somaina Rabha (15), were found hanging from a tree in a mysterious circumstance on Friday evening. The family members of the two victims suspect that the two girls did not commit suicide. They termed it a pre-planned murder.

Visiting the houses of the two girls on Sunday, Sarma said, "The deaths of the two minor girls are quite suspicious. People suspect it to be either suicide or murder after rape. Whatever may be the case all angles will be investigated. I have already ordered the police administration to conduct a thorough investigation."

The Chief Minister said that he had found some evidence of a telephonic conversation with boys of a particular community for about an hour, and most of the mobile chattings have been deleted. He also said at least five persons have been arrested in this connection. He further said that the announcement of ex gratia was not a matter of concern, but life is more precious than money. He firmly said that the culprits involved in it would be dealt with an iron hand.

The family of Bibison Rabha, father of victim Rubita Rabha, said that one Mujibur Ali of New Hatipoda village of Dhubri district took his plot of land for cattle farming for some years. They said that Majibur had no intention to desert the land despite repeated request. The family and villagers asked him to leave the village, and finally, he left the village on June 10 with his cattle, and the incident of the 'killing' happened on the next day, i.e. June 11. The Kokrajhar police have arrested five persons on Saturday in that connection.

The entire family that went to the paddy field for harvesting did not find the two girls after returning home at around 4 pm. They started searching in the area, and later some villagers found their bodies hanging from a tree in a nearby forest area atop a hillock. They suspected that the two girls were murdered first and their bodies hanged. Local MLA Lawrence Islay, All Rabha Students Union (ARSU) president Nripen Kanda and the leaders of various organizations visited the spot and vehemently condemned the incident.

Also Read: Two Minor Sisters found Hanging from a Tree in Assam's Kokrajhar District