Tea tribe body presses for recovery of Neha

Special Correspondent

Silchar, June 11: It is almost one year ago that Neha Bagdi of Durgakona in close proximity to Assam University was kidnapped by some unknown miscreants along with Trisha Roy Choudhury from the residence of Dr. Shubhadeep Roy Choudhury. Neha Bagdi was the caretaker of Trisha. At the time of kidnapping, Neha and Trisha were alone as Shubhadeep, assistant professor of the University, was abroad and his wife Shatabhisha Roy Choudhury, medical officer, was at her work. Taking advantage of the baby being left alone by her parents, the maid caretaker might have been lured to be a part of the design to kidnap the baby. Trisha was recovered after 5 days of her kidnapping from Khliehriat of Meghalaya. Most unfortunate, till date there is no information about Neha Bagdi whose parents are tea garden workers. ADGP Mukesh Agarwal, specially deputed by the Chief Minister to coordinate the efforts of the Cachar police to recover Neha failed to find out any clue about her where about. Strangely enough, despite claims of the police to recover and rescue Neha, it is still groping in the dark. By now, one year is going to pass.

A group of aggrieved tea workers under the banner of Cha Janajati Mahila Unnayan Parishad on Monday met the Superintendent of Police Cachar and submitted a memorandum, pressing for the recovery of Neha. They regretted that with the passage of time, the move of the police seems to have been warped under carpet. They reminded the SP of his words before the media-persons that Neha would be brought back in two months’ time. Bina Tiwari, president, and Geeta Pandey, general secretary, of the Parishad, rued that the police could go all out to trace out Trisha, being from the high family, but the same pro activism was absent in the case of Neha, perhaps being a daughter of lesser god.

Chanchala Nunia, vice-president, Barak Valley Cha Mazdoor Sangha, one of the signatory to the memorandum, strongly pleaded with the SP to ensure that Neha was restored with her mother Mangla Bagdi and father Gopal Bagdi. Questions quite legitimately been raised not only in the tea tribe belts but also in civil society in general, is Neha Bagdi safe? And unless Neha is recovered, no one can remove the lid of mystery and intrigue over the great kidnapping.