Family of CRPF jawan Atul Phukan missing for 24 years finally perform his last rites

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The last rites of a CRPF jawan were performed by his family in Lakhimpur after he went missing 24 years ago. Atul Phukan, son of Gopal Phukan, resident of Phumuriya Bakal Gaon under Panigaon Police Station of the district, joined the No.23 Battalion of the CRPF in 1991. He was posted in when he went missing in 1995.

According to one of his younger brothers, Paresh Phukan, the CRPF informed their family that Atul went missing on July 11, 1995 from a hospital while he was undergoing medical treatment. He was admitted in the hospital for treatment of malaria on July 6 that year. Significantly, the CRPF sent the information to the family on July 22 through the Panigaon Police Station though the incident took place on July 11.

Following the development, the family of the jawan was eagerly waiting for his return. In this regard, the family filed a petition in Gauhati High Court expecting any information about him or to get his body for confirmation of his death. But this did not happen. His parents passed away with a heavy heart for the grief of separation from their son.

“No CRPF personnel came to our home for the sake of any formality. Our prayer for declaring him a martyr was also not granted,” said the younger brother. As per religious tradition, the family of the jawan performed his last rituals on July 19 after waiting for him for the past 24 years. The adya shradha will be held on July 28.

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