Assam: Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Pays Tribute to Teen Martyr Sam Stefford

By: Rana Pratap Saikia

Former party President Rahul Gandhi was flanked by several Congress leaders as he made his way to the abode of 17-year-old Sam Stefford, one of five martyred during the mass protests against the amendment of the Citizenship Act in Assam.

Sam, a budding musician, succumbed to bullet injuries he had sustained during police firing at Hatigaon after he had gone to attend an anti-CAA protest spearheaded by Assam icon Zubeen Garg. The boy was rushed to the Guwahati Medical College & Hospital, where efforts to save him were in vain.

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Gandhi, in Assam to take stock of the situation after the fallout over the contentious amendment of the Citizenship Act, could be seen paying his tribute to the teenaged martyr at his residence, where a garlanded picture of the teenaged musician still adorns the front.

Rahul, who was greeted by a sea of adoring followers in front of Sam's house, was seen offering flowers in front of Sam's picture. Then, joined by the creme-de-la-creme of Assam Congress (including 3-time former CM Tarun Gogoi), Rahul interacted with the distraught family members of Sam and paid his condolences.

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Inside Northeast sources have informed us that after taking part in a massive rally opposing the CAA, Gandhi is now headed to the house of another martyr Dipanjal Das, who was a resident of Chaygaon.

It may be mentioned here that after the amendment of the Citizenship Act sparked massive protests in Assam, Government efforts to quell the uprising resulted in 5 deaths.

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