From our Correspondents

SIVASAGAR/JORHAT, July 21: Along with other parts of the State, Sivasagar and Jorhat too witnessed massive protests against the brutal killing of Assam student, Pritam Bhattacharyya in Bihar. The Sivasagar regional unit of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), today staged a protest at Doulmukh Charali. More than hundred AASU activists led by its central organizational secretary Sarat Hazarika, AASU Sivasagar regional president (in-charge) Partha Pratim Baruah and general secretary Samiran Phukan, raised slogans demanding justice for the young and brilliant student of Assam, who fell victim in the hands of miscreants due to negligence of GRP. The activists burnt the effigy of the Union Minister for Railways, Mukul Roy.

While talking to The Sentinel, Sarat Hazarika said, “It is sheer negligence on the part of GRP and action should be taken so that the culprits are caught and Pritam gets justice.”

Expressing concern at the lack of safety and security of passengers of Northeast in trains, Hazarika said, “Again and again people from the Northeast are targeted. Our people travelling in trains are physically assaulted, harassed, sexually molested, looted and humiliated. But the governments and Ministry of railways remain silent every time.”

Demanding exemplary punishment to the culprits, the AASU leader also demanded safe passage of passengers from the Northeast through Bihar.

Meanwhile, similar protests were also witnessed in Jorhat as 500 AASU activists burnt the effigy of the Railway minister, demanding justice for Pritam. The activists raised slogans against the minister and demanded security for passengers from the Northeast in the trains plying through Bihar.  It may be mentioned that Bhattacharya, son of a retired principal of a college in Silchar, who was travelling in Awadh-Assam Express train, went missing from Naugachia railway station on July 9, while he was on way to Delhi. Pritam’s body was subsequently recovered by the Naugachia police, near railway over-bridge under Katariya railway station in Barauni-Katihar railway section on July 15.