Tirap Autonomous District Council Demand Committee Urges Assam CM to Reopen Inquiry into Abduction of Tribal Leader

Margherita, October 19, 2019:

Tirap Autonomous District Council Demand Committee (TADCDC) on Saturday staged a three-hour road blockade at NH 38 in Margherita to mark their protest against their unfulfilled demands, including an inquiry into the abduction of one of their leaders.

Over 2,000 members of TADCDC along with ten other organizations participated in the road blockade.

President of TADCDC, Bisa Nong Singpho and Spokesman Pallav Shyam Wailung and all Chief Advisor of All Man Tai Speak Student Union (AMTSSU) who led the road blockade said that the working President of TADCDC, Prasanna Turung and his wife Koma Turung, were abducted on 8 April 2007 from his own residence situated at Audit Colony Margherita. Both are still missing.

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“Prasanna Turung and his wife were politically abducted, as Prasanna was the working president of TADCDC and upcoming Tribal Youth Leader of Margherita. He has raised his voice for the Tirap Autonomous District Council at 124 Number Margherita, Constituency, but unfortunately, he was abducted and remains untraced,” said Pallav Shyam Wailung.

He added, “During the time of the abduction, present Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi, the then MLA of 124 Number Margherita Constituency, Industrialist Jewel Ali, and two local goons Appu and Romu, and Gopal Dey were the prime suspects in the abduction case."

The CBI had initially registered and investigated case No RC-1/8/09/KOL and closing report case No DP/CAS/683/RC-1/8/09/KOL dated 30/06/2010, due to non-availability of clues and witnesses in the case. Then, Kukheswar Bora was the OC of Margherita, Absar Hazarika was the Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner and Prashanta Bhuyan was the Tinsukia SP.

The TADCDC leader added that demands were made to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to reopen a CBI inquiry into the case, and immediately issue land Patta/PMAY to the residents of Sunali Janajati Gaon and Namphai Tribal Village under Tirap Tribal Belt. The Chief Minister has also been requested to rehabilitate the people, who are still living at Namphai Lichang Gaon Jagun under 124 Number Margherita Constituency.

“Unfortunately, the issue hasn't gone well as up and coming Tribal Youth leader Prasanna Turung and his wife were abducted, and 12 years have passed, and they are still missing. Their two daughters are living with the relatives", one of the protesters said.

Earlier, a memorandum was given to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal through the Margherita Administration (Civil).

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