GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has announced financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to the next of the kin of Priya Basumatary, the 16-year-old student who was brutally murdered by Bodo insurgents on August 20 last suspecting her to a police informer.
Gogoi also announced that the state government would institute a bravery award after Priya Basumatary and directed the police to launch a manhunt to nab the killers of the Bodo girl student.
Gogoi called upon all sections of society to rise in unison against such gory and reprehensible acts.
“Our Government will perpetuate the hallowed memory of the little brave girl who defied the dictates of the killers. Her valour and sacrifice will continue to inspire and motivate the young generation for years to come,” he added.
The class X student of Runikhata Girls’ High School was shot dead in front of her village community at Dwimuguri forest village in Chirang district of Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD) areas of Assam by militants of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Sangbijit) or the NDFB-S.
The NDFB-S termed it an avenge killing in the wake of killing of five of its cadres who were taking shelter in the village, on August 19 last by police. The ultras accused the slain girl of being a police informer and warned villagers that same fate would befall on anyone who dared to provide tip off to police over the militant group.
The All Assam Students Union (AASU) has termed the killing of the young girl as a ‘shame’ on both Assam government and the Centre and raised doubt over the efficiency of the State police in tackling militancy.
On the other hand the president of All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), Promode Boro asked the CM to clarify on what basis the bravery award was being instituted on Priya’s name and was she being used as an informer by the police.
The ABSU leader said if the police had used the young girl as an informer they were definitely violating law.
