Reported by Manoj Kumar Ojha
Guwahati: The mysterious deaths of two minor Tea Tribe girls in Assam’s Kokrajhar district have sparked outrage, grief and growing demands for a high-level probe into the incident.
Assam Cabinet Minister Sanjay Kishan, accompanied by local MLA Rupam Roy, visited the victims’ families on Sunday and assured them of a thorough investigation.
The bodies of 15-year-old Anamika Bara, a Class IX student and 14-year-old Charita Lakra, a Class VIII student of Dhalmara High School, were recovered on May 21 from a pond located inside the Lal Kura Tea Estate at Dhalmara in Kokrajhar district.
The incident has created tension across the locality, with residents and several organisations suspecting foul play behind the deaths of the two Adivasi girls, both residents of the tea garden area.
Soon after the bodies were recovered, protests erupted in the locality as residents demanded justice and an impartial investigation into the case.
During his visit, Minister Kishan expressed condolences to the bereaved families and acknowledged the growing anxiety among local residents over the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
He stated that although police had already launched an investigation, it was crucial to establish the full facts of the case and ensure strict action if any criminal involvement is found.
Kishan also said maintaining public trust in the investigation was important, especially among the Adivasi community and the families affected by the tragedy. He assured that the government would closely monitor the progress of the probe.
Meanwhile, villagers alleged that the pond where the bodies were found had been dug illegally beside a roadside area, creating serious safety risks for local residents. Responding to these concerns, the minister said discussions had already been held with MLA Rupam Roy, who had reportedly agreed to take steps to fill up the pond soon.
Locals further raised concerns over increasing anti-social activities in and around the tea garden locality, prompting discussions on setting up a police outpost in the area to strengthen security and prevent similar incidents in future.
The incident has once again drawn attention to concerns over the safety of young girls in tea garden regions and the lack of monitoring of hazardous sites in remote areas.
Police investigation into the deaths is currently ongoing.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kokrajhar, Akshat Garg, was unavailable for comment regarding the latest developments in the investigation till the filing of the report.