Dhemaji bomb blast case: Victims demand government to disclose who triggered Dhemaji explosion

LAKHIMPUR: Extensive reaction has swamped Dhemaji and Lakhimpur district since Thursday in the wake of the verdict pronounced by Gauhati High Court by acquitting the accused in the 2004 Dhemaji bomb blast case. The people of the both district, who sought justice heart and soul for the victims of the heinous bomb blast incident have been astounded following the verdict as no one was found guilty for wrongdoing and triggering the explosion which snatched away the invaluable life of 13 innocent people. They took to the social media platforms to express their resentment to the verdict.

On August 15, 2004, when people of Dhemaji, mostly school children and their mothers, gathered at Dhemaji College playground to celebrate the Independence Day, a bomb exploded killing 13 and injuring more than 21 persons. The bomb was planted near the college-gate and it was exploded when the students and teachers of various schools were passing through the gate. The explosion was so heavy that scattered parts of human body stayed hanging on the branches of nearby trees for two days. At that time, the incident jolted not only the State but also the whole nation. The explosion was allegedly triggered by the militants of banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) killing 10 innocent children and three women.

The case registered regarding the blast, vide No. 127/2011 US 120B/121/121A/122/302/326 under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, had been under trial in Dhemaji District and Session Court for a long period. Finally, Dhemaji Police submitted charge-sheets against 15 persons in connection with the case. On July 4, 2019, Dhemaji District and Session Court awarded life imprisonment to four accused of the case out of the fifteen while two were sentenced four-year rigorous punishment. On the the other hand, eight persons were acquitted from the case for lack of evidence while one accused was declared absconding. It is pertinent to mention here that the name of former Cabinet Minister Bharat Narah also got connected in the case as a result of which he had to appeare before the court. It was alleged at that time that the case was not transferred to CBI due to massive political pressure though extensive demands were raised for that motion.

Later, the six accused challenged the verdict of the Dhemaji District and Session Court at Gauhati High Court which pronounced its verdict on Thursday. A division bench of the Gauhati High Court, comprised of justices Michael Zothankhuma and Mridul Kumar Kalita overturned the 2019 order of the Dhemaji District and Sessions Court and acquitted the accused of all charges framed against them.

Following the verdict, the relatives of the blast victims burst into tears like a summer tempest in distress. Reacting to this, Nityananda Saikia, who lost his two sisters in the blast, said that the killers had won and the government had lost. “We did not get justice,” he added while blaming the alleged dereliction on the part of the investigating officers of the case and Police Department for submitting a weak chargesheet. On the other hand, Rima Panging, who sustained severe injury in the blast, demanded the Government of Assam to disclose who triggered the explosion while expressing her resentment. The relatives of other victims of the blast also expressed grievances and dissatisfaction following the court's verdict which refreshed the memories of black day in their mind.

August 16 is observed as ‘Black Day’ every year under the patronage of the Government of Assam to pay tribute to the 13 martyrs of the blast and as opposition to the insurgency and terrorism. The Black Day has been observed since 2005.

Also Read:Book titled "Let’s Fly High Together" on aviation industry released

Also Watch;