It’s a day that makes scores of families weep, hundreds shudder and gives thousands goose bumps.
October 30, 2008, may go down as one of the darkest days in Assam history but Naresh Tumung, 35, does not even remember the horrific instant that changed his and his family’s life forever.
The one-time autorickshaw driver battled with death for eight months after the powerful blast at Ganeshguri maimed his left hand and left leg and damaged his brain. Though he won that battle, he lost much more.
Today, living with his mother, Gulapi, in a rickety bamboo hut provided by people of his locality at Hengerabari, he lives off his brother’s income and has no memory whatsoever of who he was before that fateful day. Even his wife was taken away by her family members on the day of the blast. His pastime — playing chess with neighbours who drop by every day to check his progress.
“People say I used to drive an autorickshaw and that I was injured in the blast,” Tumung said, trying to recall that day in vain.
His neighbours have given him the small hut to live in as Tumung is yet to fully recover from his injuries and is unable to climb the hill on which his original home was.
“The Rs 1.5 lakh we received from the government as compensation was gone in the first year itself, with the lion’s share going towards medical expenses. Had we received some more money, we could have treated him properly,” Gulapi said.
Sunita, who lost her 5-year-old daughter and husband, Sagar Sarma, in the blast, is carrying on with her son Karan, a Class VI student, and lives in a rented house at Hengerabari.
Her daughter, Moromi, the youngest victim, died just 100 metres away from her school — the Dispur Government Junior Basic School — as her father was bringing her home.
“She has recovered a lot from the shock. She has moved on. The incident had affected her health. She has now stopped working in households for a living and is running the family with the money she received as compensation,” said Minoti Choudhury, Sunita’s mother.
Tomorrow, Tumung will visit the blast site at Ganes-hguri, where chief minister Tarun Gogoi will unveil a memorial to honour those who lost their lives in the blast.
Those who died that day are beyond pain but though it has ebbed for those who survived, the struggle to live what’s left of life continues.
October 30, 2008, may go down as one of the darkest days in Assam history but Naresh Tumung, 35, does not even remember the horrific instant that changed his and his family’s life forever.
The one-time autorickshaw driver battled with death for eight months after the powerful blast at Ganeshguri maimed his left hand and left leg and damaged his brain. Though he won that battle, he lost much more.
Today, living with his mother, Gulapi, in a rickety bamboo hut provided by people of his locality at Hengerabari, he lives off his brother’s income and has no memory whatsoever of who he was before that fateful day. Even his wife was taken away by her family members on the day of the blast. His pastime — playing chess with neighbours who drop by every day to check his progress.
“People say I used to drive an autorickshaw and that I was injured in the blast,” Tumung said, trying to recall that day in vain.
His neighbours have given him the small hut to live in as Tumung is yet to fully recover from his injuries and is unable to climb the hill on which his original home was.
“The Rs 1.5 lakh we received from the government as compensation was gone in the first year itself, with the lion’s share going towards medical expenses. Had we received some more money, we could have treated him properly,” Gulapi said.
Sunita, who lost her 5-year-old daughter and husband, Sagar Sarma, in the blast, is carrying on with her son Karan, a Class VI student, and lives in a rented house at Hengerabari.
Her daughter, Moromi, the youngest victim, died just 100 metres away from her school — the Dispur Government Junior Basic School — as her father was bringing her home.
“She has recovered a lot from the shock. She has moved on. The incident had affected her health. She has now stopped working in households for a living and is running the family with the money she received as compensation,” said Minoti Choudhury, Sunita’s mother.
Tomorrow, Tumung will visit the blast site at Ganes-hguri, where chief minister Tarun Gogoi will unveil a memorial to honour those who lost their lives in the blast.
Those who died that day are beyond pain but though it has ebbed for those who survived, the struggle to live what’s left of life continues.
On the eve of completion of four years of the October 30 serial blasts, the Assam government seems to be working at cross purposes. While it is preparing to pay a tribute to victims on Tuesday, it is also chalking out a strategy with the Centre to negotiate with National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) - the perpetrators of the heinous act.
At a time when the state government and the Centre are almost on the verge of inking a peace pact with the outfit, the demand for justice seeking maximum punishment for the culprits, including NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary, is getting louder. The Centre's peace interlocutor P C Haldar has started talks with Daimary, who is behind the bars at present. He has also hinted at signing of a pact soon.
"The government is trying to sign a peace agreement with the ultras for the greater benefit of the masses. But no agreement should also overlook the sentiments of people. A peace dialogue can be organised without freeing the militants too. As a citizen of the country, we have our own rights to seek justice," said Indranil Kalita, the organising secretary of Forum for Terrorist Victims' Family, Assam.
Recently, NDFB (Ranjan Daimary) faction demanded freeing of its leaders first to initiate the peace process. "It's a tough call. The state government and the Centre are chalking out a strategy to give the peace process with NDFB a feasible shape," said an official.
Meanwhile, the state government will pay tribute to the victims of the serial blasts at a function under the Ganeshguri flyover in the city. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will unveil a memorial on Tuesday. Similar programmes are also being organized by various other organizations at the three blast sites, including Ganeshguri, CJM court premises and Panbazar here.
The Lawyers' Association here, along with Public Awareness Forum and Justice for Society, in collaboration with Gauhati Medical College Hospital, has organised a blood donation camp at the CJM court premises. The All Assam Students' Union has also announced to take out a candlelight rally to pay tribute to the victims.
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