Nalbari murder: Govt, AASU reach out to family; survivor shows improvement

Nalbari, June 2: A day after the brutal attack in Assam's Nalbari district that claimed the life of 18-year-old All Assam Students' Union (AASU) member Madhurjya Barman and left his cousin sister critically injured, senior political and student leaders visited the bereaved family on Tuesday.Nalbari legislator Jayanta Mallabaruah, along with AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya, met the victim's family and assured them of support as the community continued to reel from the shocking incident. Speaking to the press before meeting the family, Mallabaruah said the government was committed to ensuring justice and was examining whether additional individuals were involved in the crime. "The accused involved in the crime has died in a police encounter, but investigations are still on to ascertain whether anyone else was involved.

The government has already instructed the police administration to take the strictest possible measures," he said. Bhattacharya described Madhurjya's death as a personal loss for the student organisation, saying the teenager had died while trying to protect his cousin sister during the attack. "When an AASU member dies, it feels like losing a member of our own family. Madhurjya died while trying to protect his sister.

We met his parents today and no one can truly understand the grief they are going through," he said.Noting that Madhurjya was the only child of his parents and had recently passed the Higher Secondary examination, Bhattacharya urged the state government to extend all possible assistance to the family.Deep in grief, Madhurjya's mother appealed to the government to ensure that no other family suffers a similar tragedy. "My son was only 18. He loved working for society and was actively associated with AASU. I pray that no other child has to suffer such a brutal attack," she said.

Meanwhile, Nalbari Senior Superintendent of Police Bibekananda Das said the investigation was progressing and that the weapon allegedly used in the attack had been recovered. "The manner in which the attack was carried out was inhumane. The accused also attacked the police team during the operation, causing damage to service vehicles and minor injuries to a sub-inspector. The victim girl is still fighting for her life and we urge people to remain alert and share information about such individuals whenever possible," Das said.

Security has been tightened in the area, with police personnel deployed outside the accused's residence to prevent any untoward incident. In a significant development, representatives of five villages in the Kalakuchi area resolved not to permit public funeral rites for the accused. A meeting held under the banner of the Kalakuchi Kumarikata Milan Kabarsthan strongly condemned the crime and decided that he would not be allowed burial in the traditional public cemetery.Residents said the family could conduct burial rites on private property if they wished.Amid the tense atmosphere, doctors at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) offered a measure of hope regarding the condition of the injured girl. GMCH Superintendent Dr Devajit Choudhury said she has shown signs of improvement, has been able to speak and recognise her father, though she remains under close medical observation.

Doctors said she is not yet completely out of danger and that recovery from the psychological trauma of the attack is likely to take time. Further MRI and ultrasound examinations have been planned to assess injuries to her lower body and spinal region. The attack has triggered widespread outrage across Assam, with demands for swift justice and stronger safeguards against such violent crimes.