Guns robbing giggles from children in violent Asom

Guwahati, Nov 9 (UNI) Debojit Moran's excitement filled a nondescript courtyard in Upper Asom with twinkling laughter and smiles. In another part, Suresh Shah was clapping in his father's arm enjoying 'Kirtan' in a crowded ally.

Then two mindless bullets were fired and Debojit's lifeless body lay limp on the ground. Another resounding blast in another corner and Suresh was blown away.

Debojit, 5, and Suresh, 1, were both killed in the recent spate of violence in Asom. The former was caught in an encounter between ULFA and the Army and the other died in a blast by ULFA.

None of them had any inkling of what 'revolution' and 'sovereignty' were all about. But today Asom has become a cremation ground of many Debojits and Sureshs, where children are not even spared from the brutality of mindless violence.

'This is simply shocking. Where do we stand?' was the reaction of Jnanpith award winner and Peace initiator Dr Indira Goswami. Most had no words to condemn the killings.

'This is simply barbaric. Even children are not spared,' said Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

In upper Asom, specially near Penegri of Tinsukia district, where Debojit Moran was shot dead, it has been full scale protest with hundreds coming out on the streets blaming the army for the incident.

The child was playing with his elder sister when two youths ran in, followed by Army jawans. In the cross fire, Debojit got two hits and died on the spot while his sister Sonpahi Moran was critically injured yesterday.

In Sunday's bomb blast of Fancy Bazar, Suresh Shah became the 14th victim when the little baby gave in, after fighting for life for 24 hours in the intensive care unit of the Guwahati Medical College. ''There is no definition of death and there can not be classification also. What more worst examples can be of mindless violence than Debojit and Suresh Shah. Stop this. It will result nothing,'' said AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Kr Bhattacharya.

The Army in a terse statement said that it was the ULFA not they who shot dead the little kid. At Pengeri no one was listening to the Army and ULFA had exploited the position.

''I do not know when this is going to end. Perhaps the entire generation has to go,'' said nationally acclaimed filmmaker Sanjib Sabhapandit, whose latest film ''Jatinga Et all'' is on the same subject. He is frustrated and angry over the spiraling violence.

The serial violence has brought back insecurity to Asom and parents of many Fancy Bazar residents are still not sending their wards to the school. At Pengeri and in rural areas of Tinsukia district, the children are shut inside home.

The situation is unlikely to improve as 19 more Para Military companies are being rushed into the state. More killings will take pace and more Debojits and Sureshs will be caught in the cross fire if all the parties do not stop violence, said Dr Bhattacharya.

UNI