TURA: The Garo Students’ Union has called for shutdown of local shops on Wednesday to condole the death of a teenager at Rishipara last week.
In a memorandum to West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi, GSU president Tengsak G Momin demanded immediate arrest of those involved in the violence that led to the death of 16-year-old Sengat Sangma. Other organisations demanding action are FKJGP, AYWO, ADE, FAF and GHSMC.
GSU on Monday accused the doctor, who attended to the teenager at Tura civil hospital, of negligence.
“The death of Sengat could have been prevented if the doctor on duty and the police had been more vigilant to detect the seriousness of the injury. How could the doctor and the police overlook such an injury,” said members of the union and demanded that the doctor be suspended.
The GSU members compared it with the custodial death of Balsan S Marak two years ago. The union also accused an SI on duty at the station of allegedly assaulting two of Sengat’s companions on that fateful night and demanded action against him. “The SI must be suspended and the two boys should file a case against him for assault,” GSU said on Monday and added that there was no CCTV camera at the police station or the control room.
Terming Rishipara as a den of nefarious activities, GSU demanded crackdown on illegal activities in the locality. “Rishipara is known for illegal activities, including drugs and alcohol. An inquiry must be conducted as the illegal activities are happening in the open,” it stated. The union demanded that all the seven accused named in the FIR be arrested and severely penalised.
GSU has also raised the issue of complete closure of wine shops that is leading to a rise in drug abuse. It also drew a comparison with Nagaland and Mizoram where drug addiction increased sharply after liquor shops were shut down and Mizoram was forced to open wine shops. “There is a steady rise in drug use and used packets are often found at William Point and in other places of Tura,” the union said.
