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ACMS condemns police brutality at Pengeree

By Staff Correspondent

DIBRUGARH, April 12 - Paban Singh Ghatowar and Dileshwar Tanti, the president and secretary of Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) respectively while expressing solidarity with the victims of the Pengeree incident, condemned the barbaric acts of the police and the CRPF.

The trade union leaders have urged upon the state government to immediately initiate a judicial enquiry into the incident and nail the guilty as per the law. ACMS has also demanded Rs 10 lakh as compensation for those dead and Rs lakh for the injured.

State�s Forest and Environment Minister Atuwa Munda today rushed to take stock of the highly tense situation in Tinsukia district�s Pengeree township area following the police firing on a mob yesterday even as another succumbed at the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) here last night. The death toll including electrocution has now increased to 12.

While eleven in the AMCH are stated to be out of danger, two are said to be in a critical condition. Those undergoing treatment at AMCH include Ganesh Garh, Rajesh Oraon, Nibedita Sanwansi, Simi, Samaru Kharia, Bandani Udai, Harak Lal Garh, Megnath Sona Murah, Mansuk Topno, Biju Oraon, Dhiraj Mukhia, Debaru Murah and Sita Nayak. Except Nibedita Sanwansi who sustained burn injuries, all others admitted at the AMCH have sustained bullet injuries. The name of one injured could not be ascertained.

However, it must be mentioned here that there are discrepancies in the list of names of those under treatment and also the dead. A few names of patients registered at AMCH are different from the police list. The list prepared by Adivasi students� body AASAA also differs from other lists. The deceased have been identified by AASAA as Lohali Oraon, Tara Halwa, Sitamoni Garh, Satilal Garh, Dhiren Sing, Bihani Durga, Binita Bodra, Sanibari Murah, Anita Das, Dipak Nayak, Joykaran Lakra and Sanika Lakhan.

Before proceeding to Pengeree after landing at Mohanbari airport, the Minister paid visit to some of the victims at AMCH here and assured them of all medical help. He also urged the medical authorities to ensure that the victims got the best of medical care free of cost.

Munda was accompanied by Ratan Kotoky, principal, AMCH, Santana Chetia, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tinsukia and other medical officers. Later talking to newsmen, Munda said that medical authorities were planning to shift the critical ones to medical institutes like AIIMS or Apollo Hospital for better treatment provided guardians of the victims gave their consent.

As compensation, the Minister said that the state government would immediately disburse Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for the less injured.

He also said that a magisterial enquiry into the whole incident was already ordered by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and that all those guilty would be punished.

The All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) too demanded a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased and Rs 3 lakh for the injured. In a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Tinsukia, AASAA has demanded stringent punishment to the kidnappers as also upon the guilty police and paramilitary personnel who triggered the killings.

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