Outrage in Assam as machete attack victim dies of injuries in Dibrugarh

Nandita Saikia, a BA third-semester college girl from Dhakuakhana in Lakhimpur district of Assam, died of severe injuries owing to a machete attack by one Rintu Sharma. Saikia was attacked on August 21 and breathed her last at the Brahmaputra Diagnostic Hospital in Dibrugarh on Wednesday, where she was undergoing treatment.

Rintu Sharma, the accused, allegedly attacked the victim with a machete after she rejected his proposal for marriage. He attacked Nandita when she was at a bus stop with her classmate Kashmira Dutta and her father Deba Dutta.

All three of them were rushed to the hospital immediately. They were first taken to the Dhemaji Civil Hospital and then shifted to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh. Nandita was eventually moved to Brahmaputra Diagnostic Hospital where she was undergoing treatment before her death. As per reports, the hospital did not charge her for treatment after two days of admission.

“Accused (has been) arrested immediately after the offence and a strong case (is) being made out against him,” Director General of Police, Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta told EastMojo.

Rintu Sarma is an employee at the Moridhal College in Dhemaji, where the victim was a student. “Rintu was a Grade 4 employee. We have already taken action against him and he has been suspended,” Dr. Kamal Gogoi, Principal of Moridhal College told EastMojo.

“Nandita was a good girl and brilliant student, popular among her peers. She had good relations with all her teachers and others in the college,” Gogoi added.

“It’s a barbaric incident. We cannot accept such kind of incidents. There was a protest initiated by AASU in Dhemaji and at the same time there was a protest by the society as well. The culprit must be booked and punished in such a manner that nobody ever dares to do such kind of a heinous crime. It is the duty of the government and the right of student masses and the community of Assam to ensure safety,” Samujjal Bhattacharya, Chief Adviser of All Assam Students Union (AASU), told EastMojo.

“It’s a very sad incident. The culprit, whoever he may be, must be booked and there must be exemplary punishment so perpetrators of such crime cannot escape. Throughout Assam, we must appreciate that the student community and the society as a whole have had a good atmosphere. But at the same time, these type of incidents have to handled firmly,” he added.

Outraged citizens took to Twitter demanding for authorities to provide exemplary punishment to the accused through a fast track court. Regional political party leaders and local celebrities also took to Twitter demanding justice for the victim.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Nandita Saikia, who succumbed to her injuries today. Anguished by the act of the perpetrator, urge the administration to take necessary steps to provide exemplary punishment to the accused,” tweeted Member of Parliament, Ajit Kumar Bhuyan.

“Deeply saddened and anguished by the untimely death of #nanditasaikia. I express my deepest condolence to the bereaved family.I urge the police to ensure that such inhuman act don’t happen again by providing exemplary punishment to culprit Rintu Sharma involved in this crime,” tweeted AIUDF MLA, Aminul Islam.

“It was absolutely heartbreaking to find out that Moridhal attack victim Nandita Saikia has passed away. It is my earnest appeal to the police and the judiciary to ensure swift, strict and exemplary punishment for this criminal. My sincere condolences to Nandita’s family,” tweeted Aimee Baruah, Assamese actor and film director.

“No word! Simply barbaric. Deeply saddened to hear that the brave girl fighting for life lost the war. Culprit must be brought to justice through exemplary punishment,” tweeted Padmapani Bora, IRS.

Nandita Saikia, a BA third-semester student of #Assam died four days after she was attacked by a man, Rintu Sarma, with a machette, just because she rejected his marriage proposal. When will men learn to take a no for a no?” tweeted journalist Anupam Bordoloi.