Assam: 60-year-old man killed by President’s convoy in Bokakhat

A 60-year old man was killed in an accident after being hit by an Assam police escort car following the President of India, Ramnath Kovind’s cavalcade in Bokakhat on Saturday afternoon.

The incident occurred after the President of India, Ramnath Kovind’s cavalcade passed Bokakhat while heading towards the Kaziranga National Park.

The deceased has been identified as Rameshwar Rabidas (60) a resident of Milanpur neighbourhood situated close to the National Highway 715 (formerly National Highway 37), Souvik Datta, the Circle Officer told EastMojo.

Datta added that the accident victim was crossing the road next to office of the director of Kaziranga National Park and JDSG College of Bokakhat.

Eyewitnesses told EastMojo that nearly 50 vehicles belonging to various Assam State as well as district officials were following the President who flew to Bokakhat on a personal vacation to Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.

A Bokakhat Police official told EastMojo that the matter is under investigation. The deceased person’s body has been sent to Golaghat for forensic examination.

Police officials told EastMojo that several dignitaries from across the Golaghat and neighbouring region came to meet the President, and several vehicles were following the President’s cavalcade.

Local organizations condemning the incident, however, demanded that the President should acknowledge the death.

“It is very very unfortunate that the president’s convoy trampled down Rameshwar Rabidas, a daily wage worker to death. This is unacceptable and the President should acknowledge this death. We demand complete state honors to the deceased,” Doley, a resident of Bokakhat and assistant secretary of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS)’s Assam Chapter told EastMojo.

Golaghat district administration has been preparing for the visit for over a week.

“We had made elaborate arrangements and decorations for the President’s visit,” Datta said, deeming the accident as unfortunate.