Judicial probe must into the death of five anti-CAA martyrs: AASU

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The AASU (All Assam Students' Union) on Saturday demanded a judicial probe into the police firings during the movement opposing the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) in Assam leading to the death of five persons across the State last year.

Two of them are minors, namely Sam Stafford (15 years old resident from Hatigaon in Guwahati) and Dipanjal Das (17 years old from Chaygaon of Kamrup district). The other three martyrs are Iswar Nayak (25) from Udalguri, Abdul Alim (23) from Barpeta and Dwijendra Panging from Dibrugarh. Dipanjal Das has been declared as the first martyr of the anti-CAA movement in Assam by AASU.

Addressing the gathering at the Hatigaon High School premises on the occasion of 'Shraddhanjai Anusthan' (tribute-paying meeting) organized by the Guwahati unit of AASU, the student organization's chief advisor Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya said, "It's already one year since the CAA has been imposed. Five persons opposing the legislation were murdered. However, the State government has not gathered the courage to institute an inquiry. There's a reason: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal who holds the Home department and his Ministerial colleagues know for sure about the identities of the murderers. It is strange that despite possessing all the facts and figures about the murders, the government hasn't taken any action against the murderers.

"The government definitely knows as to who were the police officials in those respective areas where the police firings took place, the other police officials who were on duty as well as who ordered the firings on the anti-CAA protestors there during those days.

"Against this backdrop, we demand a judicial probe into those incidents by a judge of the Gauhati High Court. We want that the persons responsible for the incidents be brought to the book."

Bhattacharyya posed, "How can the CAA be good for Assam if this legislation is not applicable for the areas falling within the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India and also those States having the ILP (Inner Line Permit) system in the Northeast?

He added, "The CAA is totally unconstitutional, communal and against the Assam Accord. It poses serious threats to the languages, cultures and very identities of the indigenous people of Assam."

The AASU chief advisor further demanded, "Recommendations of the 'High Level Committee on Clause-VI of the Assam Accord' set up by the Centre must be implemented without any delay."

He further announced, "The democratic CAA movement will become more intense in the days to come. Simultaneously, a movement will also be launched to revive the economic status of the people of Assam, who have faced tremendous hardship following the COVID-19 induced lockdown."

Among those who addressed the gathering were AASU general secretary Sankor Jyoti Baruah, senior advocate Nekibur Zaman, noted artistes Zubin Garg, Manisha Hazarika and Barsharani Bishoya.

Also Watch: Live: Paying Respect to the Martyrs of the Anti-CAA Protest on their One year Death Anniversary

Also Read: Justice for martyrs families; APCC to file petition in Gauhati High Court