Leaders of most of the socio-cultural organisations and intellectuals of Karbi Anglong district came together to condemn the June 8 mob lynching incident at Panjuri Kachari Gaon under Dokmoka Police Station of Karbi Anglong in which two Guwahati youths lost their lives.
In a press conference held here at Rangsina Sarpo Auditorium, Lorulangso on Friday, the intellectuals and leaders of various socio-cultural organisations cutting across community, language and language demanded stringent punishment to all the culprits involved in the incident.
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Also read: Assam: Protests in Karbi Anglong, W Karbi Anglong against mob lynching
They also pointed out that for the fault of two or three persons a particular community cannot be taken to be at fault. The intellectuals of the district would not tolerate it, said a statement.
Attending the press conference, former president of Asom Sahitya Sabha, Padma Shri Rongbong Terang said, “Kangthilangso is a remote area and people are less educated and due to this, they are victims of superstitions. Awareness should be created among the people. Instead of hating each other, we need to develop mutual understanding.”
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Dr Motital Nunisa, a senior citizen from the Dimasa community said, “The incident is unfortunate and shocking. But what has happened cannot be made right and we need to think for the future in establishing peace in Assam. For the incident, a particular community cannot be blamed, but everyone has the responsibility now for making things right.”
While Chento Rengma, a senior citizen from Naga Rengma community, said there should not be any fear-psychosis and students of the district should be free to move out from the district for their higher studies.
Expressing similar view, Sahitya Academy awardee Premananda Muchahary said, “A culprit has no community or religion and is liable to get proper punishment for the crime committed. Incidences are not only taking place in Karbi Anglong, but in Guwahati also. Then why this particular incident of Karbi Anglong has been focused so much into that people started spreading hate messages in social media. The hate messages in social media should be stopped.”
Former chairman of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) and founder general secretary of Karbi Cultural Society (KCS) Roy Enghi urged for strong measures to wipe out superstitious belief among the people.
Also read: Assam: Dokmoka lynching main accused in police dragnet
He also said that anti-social elements have misused social media platforms.
The leaders of the different organisations and intellectuals appealed to the people of Assam not to be moved by the wrong information spread through the social media.
Ex-minister and president of Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) Holiram Terang; founder president of KCS Lunse Timung; poet Sar-et Hanse; former general secretary of Dimasa Sahitya Sabha Gopal Thaosen; former MLA Chandra Kt Terang; editor of The Arleng Daily TP Hanse and many others were present at the press briefing.
Meanwhile, post June 8 lynching incident, leaders of different organizations have visited Diphu to meet the civil bodies and intellectuals to maintain peace and tranquility with various tribes and communities of the State.
All Asom Nagarik Samaj (AANS) leaders also visited Diphu for the same purpose. They held a meeting in Diphu Club with Karbi leaders and social organisations of the district.
The team comprised editor of Amar Asom Prasanta Rajguru; Gauhati University Professor Akhil Ranjan Dutta; sculptor Biren Singha; writers Mayur Bora and Abin Azad; singer Loknath Goswami; journalist Hiren Saikia; ex-home secretary, Government of Assam and AANS vice president Dhiren Saikia and journalist Mrinal Gogoi.
In the meeting, chairman of Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State Khorsing Teron said, “The electronic media in the State should not repeatedly telecast the incident of June 8 to bring in more controversies and create communal sentiments in people’s mind. Media should know what can be given in the news or in TV to change the mindset of the people towards the positive sides.”
Teron also said that unilateral decision by one or two persons cannot be taken regarding construction of the statues of late Abhijeet Nath and Nilotpal Das.
AANS said Assam is a land of different tribes and communities sharing language, culture and tradition of each other and living peacefully.
“On June 8, lynching of two youths from Guwahati on suspicion of being child lifters is unfortunate. Though the incident took place in Karbi Anglong, a particular community cannot be blamed for it. The need of the hour is not to blame each other but to find a positive solution in establishing peace in Assam,” the AANS representatives said.
They also said that people should be careful in using the social media and refrain from giving negative comments which may hurt the sentiments of others. Students from Karbi Anglong should move out and take admission in colleges of the State without any fear. People of other districts of the State should also welcome the students from the hill districts, they added.
Former EM, KAAC, Ashok Teron; president of Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong, Protima Enghipi; former MLA Bidyasing Engleng; president, Dimasa Students’ Association, Dhiraj Diphusa; Rengma youth leader Phengpiga Rengma and others shared their views for building trust among the people.