Our Correspondent
Diphu, Oct. 17 (EMN): The 17th National Mourning Day was observed on Monday to commemorate those who lost their lives in a mass massacre on October 17, 2005 in West Karbi Anglong.
Miscreants attacked and killed innocent lives from two Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) transport buses coming down from Jirikending at Charchim – Prisek.
Altogether 41 innocent lives, including children, were lost.
The National Mourning Day was held at the incident site at Charchim – Prisek.
Keeping aside political and religious differences, the victim's family members and public participated in the mourning day by offering prayers at the commemorative stone.
Participating in the mourning day, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) also offered floral tribute and prayers to the victims at the commemorative stone erected at the site.
Addressing the gathering, the CEM said INR 5 lakh has been given to the victim's family as compensation. “In fulfilling my promises the KAAC has given INR 5 lakh as compensation to each of the 41 victim’s family members. In the previous Mourning Day observation, I promised to construct an open stage, boundary wall and solar street lights at the commemorative site at Charchim-Prisek and these have been done,” he said.
As demanded by the Charchim Prisek Mourning Observation Committee, land pattas and fisheries will be provided to the villagers for their support. The CEM announced to contribute INR 5 lakh to the observation committee for organising the annual mourning day.
As demanded by the observation committee, the KAAC declared October 17as a local holiday under the jurisdiction of KAAC, the CEM said. The CEM also said a letter has been sent to the president of India, Draupadi Murmu and Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma for awarding befitting punishment to the culprits.
The programme was attended by Chairman, KAAC, Raju Tisso and Deputy Chairman, Ajit Kumar Dey; MP Horensing Bey and other dignitaries.
Hills Tribal League (HTL) also commemorated the day by organising a candlelight vigil at Semson Sing Ingti Memorial Park, Diphu in the evening.
Chairman, HTL, Saising Rongpi questioned the High Court for the delay in awarding punishment to the culprits of the Charchim-Prisek incident. Rongpi said, ‘For petty crimes the law and order are fast in nabbing the culprits. In the case of Charchim-Prisek where 41 innocent lives were lost, the law and order authority and the court could still not award punishment to the culprits’.
Likewise, various social, students, NGOs and women organisations organised a candlelight vigil to commemorate the departed souls in various parts of the district.