‘Justice Not Served Even After 27 Years’- Ikbal Ahmed on 27th Death Anniversary of Kamala Saikia

A Correspondent

Dibrugarh: The 27th death anniversary of Kamala Saikia, the first journalist martyr of Assam, was observed on Thursday by the Greater Dibrugarh Press Club at their club premises.

The meeting started with the present chief advisor of All Assam Journalists’ Association and senior trustee of Kamala Saikia Memorial Trust, Ikbal Ahmed formally inaugurating the programme by lighting the lamp. The memorial meeting was presided by the president of Greater Dibrugarh Press Club, Monjit Bora.

Addressing the gathering, Ahmed said that despite the entire media fraternity demanding justice for the murder of Saikia for the past 27 years, the successive governments were not able to book the perpetrators who orchestrated the brutal crime. He added that no action was taken against the culprits even after ULFA confessed having committed the crime, and termed the incident a blunder on their part. Ahmed further said that Saikia was not just a journalist, but a teacher and a freedom fighter too. He played quite an important part in India’s struggle for Independence under the leadership of Gandhiji, apart from founding the Dikhowmukh Higher Secondary School, Sivasagar, and becoming its headmaster.

Earlier, the purpose of the meeting was elaborated by the secretary of GDPC, Ratul Borgohain. Various other speakers from the media community demanded justice for Saikia and asked the journalists of today to instil in them the values of determination and grit exhibited by Saikia during his career as a journalist. The meeting was graced by other dignitaries, including vice-president of All Assam Journalists’ Union, Rajeev Borgohain and former president of GDPC, Bhushanjyoti Handique.