By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Eleven-year-old Stripleaseman Mylliem from Mawsaiñ village in Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills, has been chosen for the National Bravery Awards for Children, 2012, to be presented by President Pranab Mukherjee during the Republic Day celebration in New Delhi.
Stripleaseman has been named for the award for his act of bravery in saving the life of his eleven-year-old cousin on August 2, 2011.
The young boy displayed uncanny courage to save his cousin sister from his uncle Bremmingstar Mylliem who killed his father Korindro Shangdiar, mother Tikly Mylliem and sister Elbiris Mylliem in cold blood while they were sleeping.
Narrating the harrowing experience, Stripleaseman said, “I was sleeping that night when I heard my aunt’s (Elbiris) desperate shout. As I opened my eyes I saw my uncle strangulating my aunt,” he told newspersons a day before leaving for New Delhi to receive the award.
After seeing my aunt being strangulated, Stripleaseman woke up his cousin sister Mandashisha Mylliem who was sleeping in the adjacent room.
“I then dragged her to the front door but it was locked. I kicked the door very hard and it opened,” he said, while adding that he dragged his cousin sister out of the house and ran towards a neighbour’s house.
“I told the neighbours how my uncle had killed his parents and sister and was planning to kill everyone else in the house,” Stripleaseman said.
He said that initially his neighbour did not dare to go inside the house since his uncle, a drug addict, was holding a rod in his hand.
“A large number of villagers gheraoed the house and manage to snatch the rod he was holding and kept him bound until he was handed over to the police,” Stripleaseman said.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of Meghalaya State Council for Child Welfare Theilin Phanbuh said that this year they had submitted two names for the bravery award.
“Out of the two names, the High Powered Committee constituted by the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) finally recommended the name of Stripleaseman for the award,” Phanbuh said.
Besides the citation and the cash award, she informed that the Dalmiya Group would also be sponsoring his education.
“Dalmiya Group has earmarked an amount of Rs 90,000 annually for the education expenses of those who are conferred with the National Bravery Award,” she said.