Assam CM Visits Family of Deceased Student Amid Calls for Justice
Chief Minister's Visit and Investigation Update
File image of 20-year-old Himashree Gogoi who was found dead in Andhra Pradesh (Photo: Meta)
Guwahati, Oct 12: Following the discovery of Himashree Boro's body five days ago, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited her family in Chapaidong, Guwahati, to express his condolences. This visit coincides with the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into her death in Andhra Pradesh.
Sarma conveyed his sympathies and mentioned that he has reached out to both the Union Railway Minister and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, urging for a thorough investigation into the incident.
“There are doubts and suspicions among family members and the public regarding this case. We have dispatched an IGP from Assam Police to Andhra Pradesh to advance the investigation,” the Chief Minister stated.
This visit comes as public outcry for justice intensifies, particularly concerning the safety of Assamese individuals traveling to other states.
On the previous day, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) held candlelight vigils across various district headquarters in the state, advocating for justice for Boro and enhanced safety measures for women.
AASU's chief adviser, Samujjal Bhattacharya, noted that these vigils were organized at the behest of the union's leadership, emphasizing their demands for justice and women's safety.
“There has been significant negligence and lapses by the authorities in Boro’s case,” Bhattacharya claimed, calling for accountability from those responsible.
Boro, a 20-year-old student at B Borooah College in Guwahati and a dancer, had traveled to Visakhapatnam with a dance troupe for a cultural event.
She boarded the Vivek Express bound for Dibrugarh on October 6 to return home but went missing during the trip.
Her body was later found near the railway tracks between Dusi and Ponduru stations in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh.
Before losing contact with her family, Boro had reportedly expressed her discomfort about being surrounded by men in her crowded train compartment.
Her final messages have raised significant public concern regarding the circumstances surrounding her death.
In response, the Andhra Pradesh Police have formed an SIT to investigate the matter, utilizing forensic teams, dog squads, and drones to assist in the inquiry.
Investigators are currently examining the crime scene and exploring the potential circumstances that may have led to her death.
According to the Andhra Pradesh Police, the post-mortem report has ruled out physical and sexual violence, but the investigation into the circumstances of her death is ongoing.