BTC EM calls on family of first martyr of Assam Movement

From our Correspondent

MANGALDAI, Feb  3: Who is the first martyr to make the supreme sacrifice in the historic Assam Movement launched by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and All Assam Ga Sangram Parishad (AAGSP) demanding the detection and deportation of the foreigners from Assam that rocked the State from 1979 to 1985 till the signing of the Assam Accord?   Thirty-six long years have passed and the people of Assam are still confused about it. Though all martyrs who had sacrificed their lives for the just cause of the motherland are of equal status, yet the AASU as well as the media are not concerned about the first martyr of the Assam Movement. The first martyr of the Assam Movement, as per official record, is a Bodo youth.

As per the official record of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and All Darrang District Students’ Union (AADSU), a youth belonging to the Bodo community from village Tezialpara under Kalaigaon police Station in Darrang district (now in Udalguri district) attained martyrdom on November 27 of 1979 in a tragic road accident while he was coming to join the first ever mass rally at Gandhi Maidan here in Mangaldai jointly organized by ADDSU, presided over by eminent freedom fighter Pani Ram Das, and in that rally the leaders of AASU had declared him to be the first martyr of the Assam Movement.

On December 10, 1979, Swahid Khargeswar Talukdar of Bhabanipur in Barpeta district attained the martyrdom while taking part in the road blockade to prevent Abida Begum, wife of President Fakharuddin Ahmed from submission of her nomition paper for the Lok Sabha election from Barpeta Parliamentary constituency. And in that blockade, the super cop KPS Gill allegedly played the key role in brutal killing of Swahid Khargeswar Talukdar.

People, including AASU leaders, till date are not aware that Swahid Mukunda Boro was the recognized martyr. During the tenure of the AGP in the State for two terms, the family members of this Swahid were so neglected that except the ex gratia relief of Rs 30,000 they were not offered any helping hand.  Significantly, the AGP legislator of 65 Kalaigaon LAC has never met the family members of Swahid Mukunda Boro.

But coming to know about the struggling life amidst deep pain and poverty of Kiran Boro, the younger sister of Swahid Mukunda Boro, Executive Member of BTC for Transport, Soil Conservation and Cooperation Jagadish Sarkar on Wednesday afternoon hurriedly rushed to village Tezialpara (Balipara) near Kalaigaon and met Kiran Boro and her farmer husband.

Executive Member Jagadish Sarkar assured to construct a dwelling house under IAY at the cost of Rs 1,50,000 soon. He further assured to extend all help and cooperation to the youngest sister of the Swahid.

Former AASU leader-cum-vice president of Bhergaon District Committee of Bodoland People’s Party (BPF) Keshab Chandra Deka also accompanied the visiting Executive Member today.