GUWAHATI, Oct 30 - People gathered in thousands across the State today to remember the victims of the October 30, 2008 serial blasts even as justice continued to elude the victim families.
In the city, large gatherings and community prayers marked the occasion as people assembled at the blast sites at Ganeshguri and at the CJM Court campus, Kachari.
The people, including the kin of the victims, were unanimous in holding the State Government responsible for the sorry plight of the victims� families � many of which lost their sole breadwinner in the horrific tragedy that claimed around a hundred lives, besides maiming several hundred more.
Triggered by the Ranjan Daimary-led NDFB, the serial blasts ripped through Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Barpeta Road simultaneously in what was the worst ever terrorist attack in Assam.
�Our lives changed forever on that fateful day. Making both ends meet has been an ordeal for the last seven years. The Government � including the Chief Minister � promised a lot for our rehabilitation, but none of us have got the promised jobs. The little financial help we had received is too meagre to run our families,� family members of the victims, who gathered near the Ganeshguri flyover, rued.
The people were equally concerned that justice was being denied to the victims� families on another count as well. �It is a shame that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are moving freely. We want the harshest punishment for these killers. They killed my husband and shattered my life. Every year, the Government promises justice, but nothing materialises,� Kamala Choudhury, who lost her husband Rajesh Choudhury in the Ganeshguri blast, said.
State PWD Minister Ajanta Neog was present at the Ganeshguri function along with Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Additional Chief Secretary MGVK Bhanu, Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner Dr M Angamuthu and City Police Commissioner Mukesh Agarwala, among others.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who was unable to attend the homage-paying programme as he was in Delhi, drew the ire of the public who felt that he exhibited an escapist attitude by avoiding a meeting with the victim families.
�We wanted to remind the Chief Minister what he had promised after the blasts. He has gone back on his words and we are still awaiting rehabilitation,� several kin of the victims said.
Additional Chief Secretary Bhanu said that he had instructed the Deputy Commissioner to do the needful for redressing the grievances of the victim families. �There should be clarity on the matter as to what has been done and what remains to be done by the administration. I have heard the grievances and asked the DC to act on the matter at the earliest,� he said.
The Lawyers� Association, Guwahati observed October 30 as �black day�, condemning terrorism and asking people to unite against the subversive elements trying to create chaos in society.
