‘We brought his body home, but his soul was gone’: Mother of Nalbari youth killed while saving cousin seeks justice

Grief-stricken and struggling to come to terms with the loss of her son, Deepa Barman, the mother of deceased Madhurjya Barman, on June 2, has appealed for justice and urged the government to ensure that no other family suffers a similar tragedy.

Recalling her last moments with her son, Deepa Barman said the family had attended a function at a relative's house on the day of the incident. While she and her husband returned home in the evening, Madhurjya later went to Nalbari to return some books.

"He left around 5.30 pm and came back at around 7 pm. He met me while I was talking on the phone. He touched my face and said he had come back to see me before leaving again. That was the last time I saw my son," she said.

Soon after, the family received a call from the police informing them that Madhurjya had met with an accident and asking them to come to Ghograpar. When they reached the hospital, they were not allowed to see him immediately.

"We brought his body home the next day. His body was there, but he was gone. We brought his body home, but his soul was gone," she said.

Describing her son as a kind-hearted and hardworking young man, Deepa said he lost his life while trying to save his cousin sister.

"No mother should have to suffer this pain. It should never happen to anyone's son. The police have said he was killed. Whoever was involved, and whoever helped the killers, should be punished. I request the government to ensure that such incidents do not happen to any girl or boy in the future," she said.

The incident relates to the Gangapur attack in Nalbari district, in which 19-year-old Madhurjya Barman was killed and his cousin, 18-year-old Mridumudra Deka, was critically injured while they were travelling on a scooter near Gangapur under Mukalmua on Sunday night.

Madhurjya, a resident of Balipathar in Chamata and Assistant General Secretary of the West Nalbari Regional Students' Union, died on the spot. Mridumudra was shifted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, where she remains under treatment in the intensive care unit.

Police have named Roz Ali in connection with the attack. Following a manhunt, the prime accused, Roz Ali, was reportedly killed during a police encounter in Mukalmua.

The investigation into the case is ongoing, with police examining all aspects surrounding the attack.

(Inputs from ANI)