Protest over justice for SI Junmoni by Rabha bodies on NH-17

Sakhati: The death of sub-inspector Junmoni Rabha has sent shockwaves across Assam. Hundreds of members of various Rabha organizations simultaneously blocked National Highway 17 at Sakhati and again at Bamunigaon in Kamrup rural district on Wednesday. Earlier they had protested on May 19.
All Rabha Students Union (ARSU), Sixth Schedule Demand Committee (SSDC), All Rabha Women’s Council (ARWC), Rabha Sahitya Sabha and other sister organizations participated in the mass protest.
Despite the police barricade, the Rabha organizations sat on NH-17 for half an hour and raised slogans against the state government, the Nagaon police, and even former Nagaon Superintendent of Police Leena Dolly.

Explaining the reason for the protest, ARWC secretary, Kabita Rabha said, “Junmoni Rabha’s death should be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) instead of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). ”

Kabita Rabha recalled that after the May 19 protests, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced a CBI inquiry into the matter but no action was taken and the government’s inaction in the matter was suspicious. He further said that sub-inspector Abha Jyoti Rabha should be questioned by the police in connection with Junmoni Rabha’s death.
“Though Junmoni Rabha’s mother submitted a written complaint against several police officers, we have not taken any action against them yet,” said Pradip Rabha, secretary, ARSU. He also appealed to the people of Assam to light ‘diya’ (earthen candles) on May 26, the commemoration day of Junmoni Rabha.
Ashok Rabha, Secretary, SSDC, alleged that the sub-inspector’s death was not an accident but a murder and that former Nagaon SP Leena Doley was trying to cover it up.
He added that “all neo-rabha organizations will continue their protest till Junmoni Rabha gets justice”.