With candle in hands, homage paid to truck accident victims, demand raised to lift curtain from ‘killer truck’ mystery

November 3: Youth Against Social Evils (YASE) along with Netaji Chatra Yuba Sangstha (NCYS) had given a call for a silent Candle March on 3 November, 2019 (Sunday) at 4.30 PM to mourn the death of Sonali Das and Pompy Dey in a tragic road mishap. The silent protest march was to start from near the statue of Khudiram at Club Road Silchar.

However, as individuals and organisations started to gather near the statue of Khudiram, a huge contingent of police and CRPF came to that spot. Higher officials of the police administration approached YASE and NCYS and refrained them from taking out the rally as the District Magistrate had clamped Section 144 of CrPC in Cachar.

As law abiding citizens, YASE and NCYS agreed not to break the law and rather held a protest demonstration at the pedestal of the statue of Khudiram with candle in their hands. With placards in their hand, they placed the candles near the photographs of the two deceased in the truck mishap.

Speaking during the occasion, Sanjeev Roy, President of YASE said, “We deeply mourn the tragic death of Sonali & Pompy. At the same time, we strongly demand that the administration and state government should lift the curtains from the mystery of the ‘killer truck.’ The truck loaded with poppy seeds (posto) is involved with syndicate raj run by some influential persons. Through a proper enquiry, such persons should be exposed. We also condemn all sorts of syndicates operation in Barak Valley and demand appropriate action against these. We also demand that the amount of ex-gratia should immediately be handed over to the family of the deceased and free & proper treatment should be given to the injured.”

Mr.Roy further said, “We want to give a message to the administration that almost every month we are losing young persons in road mishap. The district & police administration should take strict steps so that such incidents do not occur in the near future. We have often seen and heard how hundreds of coal loaded trucks enter through Gumrah gate illegally and go through Silchar or Karimganj to other states. The new addition to this list is poppy seeds. How did the ‘killer truck’ cross atleast 2 to 3 police stations and enter Silchar town? Those who profess zero tolerance are today silent about all such irregularities. If timely action is not taken by the government, then that day will not be far when there will be public revolt over here.”

Speaking during the occasion, Sabyasachi Rudra Gupta criticised both the ruling and opposition parties for being silent on social issues which gives pain to the common man. He said, The tragic death of journalist Molin Sharma in a road mishap in July is still fresh in our minds. The administration made tall promises but nothing fruitful has come out till now. Cases were registered against those citizens who protested the death of Molin Sharma to divert the objective of this movement. Today again we have lost our 2 sisters. Today we are bound to tell that at Silchar there is total failure of administration, failure of good governance and failure of police administration.”