Minority bodies protest, Gogoi orders separate probe

Death of Assam labourers in Meghalaya

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, April 8: With the mysterious death of fourteen Assam labourers in Meghalaya sparking reactions in the State, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today ordered a separate high-level inquiry into the incident.

Official sources said the probe will be conducted by Additiol Chief Secretary Shyam Lal Mewara.

“He will inquire into the circumstances leading to the death of some labourers hailing from Assam in Meghalaya with cooperation from Meghalaya government. Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla has taken up the matter with his Meghalaya counterpart,” the sources said.

The bodies of the fourteen labourers today reached their tive villages in Dhubri.

The family members performed the last rites today. The incident has created tension in Lower Assam, particularly in Dhubri, with family members alleging that the workers were murdered. In a statement, AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal “strongly condemned the barbaric killing of the workers” and said the Meghalaya government has failed to provide security to the people of other States living there.

The Dhubri MP said many people are now of the opinion that there is conspiracy to kill people from the minority community. He sought intervention of the Central and Assam governments. “There should be a proper investigation and the guilty punished,” Ajmal said, demanding a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased.

The Assam State Jamiat Ulama said the myserious killing of the labourers has shocked the civilized society.

Condemning the “killings”, State Jamiat general secretary Hafiz Bassir Ahmed Quasimi said the people of Assam are not safe in other States.

“The role of the Assam government is also suspicious,” the Jamiat said demanding a high level probe into the incident and exemplary punishment to the guilty.

The fourteen labourers from Assam had died in a remote village under Saipung block of East Jaintia Hills district on Sunday night.

East Jaintia Hills superintendent of police MH Dkhar had said that the initial inquest does not point to any foul play. “They seem to have died due to food poisoning and there is no single evidence indicating murder,” Dkhar has stated.

All those who died, hailed from Dhubri and Golakganj areas of Assam, and were involved in a road construction work under a Centrally sponsored scheme.