Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday led the state in paying homage to the victims of the October 30, 2008 serial blasts, the worst terror attack in the state.
The near-simultaneous bomb blasts in Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Barpeta Road and Bongaigaon had killed 88 people and injured 540. The three blasts in the city, at Ganeshguri, Kachari and Panbazar alone had claimed 53 lives.
In a memorial service for the blast victims, held at Ganeshguri here in the morning, Sonowal said his government was committed to fighting terrorism and sought the people’s support. “We will take the people along in our fight against terrorism. The people of the state want peace, as violence is no solution to any problem.”
He said his government was committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and urged the people to unite to defeat forces inimical to peace. He later tweeted: “In remembrance... Offered floral tributes to the victims of the October 30, 2008 bomb blasts in Assam at CJM Court, Guwahati.”
“On October 30, 2008 multiple bomb blasts across the state claimed many lives. Offered shraddhanjali to the innocent souls at a condolence meeting at Ganeshguri, Guwahati. Let us pledge to root out terrorism and create a society on the ideals of peace and happiness,” he tweeted again.
The memorial service at Ganeshguri was organised by the Kamrup (metro) district administration. It was attended by education minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya, MP Queen Oja, chief minister’s legal adviser Santanu Bharali, MLAs Atul Bora and Rituporno Baruah, director-general of police Kuladhar Saikia and family members of the deceased. An all-faith prayer meeting was also organised there.
Cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted: “Terrorism has become a festering wound. It is an enemy of humanity — Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Remembering the innocent lives lost in the multiple bomb blasts across #Assam on October 30, 2008. Tributes! Let us build a peaceful society, free of terrorism and hatred.”
Students light candles and earthen lamps in memory of the blast victims UB Photos
Families unhappy
The family members of the deceased and around 30 of those injured in the blasts, who attended the memorial service, alleged that the government was indifferent to their plight.
Dipali Das, 50, whose husband Dinesh, then 50, had died on the spot in the blast at Ganeshguri, told The Telegraph, “My husband was a street vendor who sold fruits. We have three children. We stay near Dispur but have received no help from the government. Both the Tarun Gogoi and Sonowal governments have failed us. The government should give jobs to those who have merit. Otherwise, it should provide pension to us.”
Dipamoni Borah, 36, of Jorhat, wife of late Dhana Borah, said the chief minister should have met and talked to them, which would have reassured them. Ibrahim Ali, 60, a resident of the city who was injured in the bomb blast, was in tears. “The government gave me a job in the education department but after working there for six months, I lost the job,” he said, urging the chief minister for help.
Members of the All Assam Students’ Union lit earthen lamps across the state in the evening in memory of the victims and shouted slogans against terrorism.
