A 26 year old tea worker was raped and brutally murdered at Namdung, a tea garden in Margherita (Assam) by Sanjib Bordoloi, a resident of the same tea garden. An AIPWA fact finding team comprising Com. Sangita Garh, Goma Garh and Shikha Das (AIPWA District Secretary) visited the spot on September 9 after which AIPWA organized a demonstration of around 800 people including tea garden workers and students from the Assam Tea Tribe Students’ Association and the All Adibasi Students’ Association of Assam, and submitted a memorandum to the SDO. The memorandum demanded the immediate arrest of Sanjib Bordoloi, speedy trial, compensation of Rs. 10 lakh to the aged mother of the rape victim, and steps by the Government and the Women’s Commission to ensure the security of women all over Assam, with special steps in the tea gardens where women from the tea garden community are especially vulnerable.
A meeting was held at the BDO office, Margherita addressed by CPI(ML) Tinsukia District Secretary Subhas Sen who stressed the need to fight the current rape culture and strive for freedom without fear for women.
Such incidents of rape are not an aberration in Assam. Earlier this year a 22 year old woman was abducted and gang raped in the same Margherita area, the culprits being related to people in power. Gangaram Kaul (who has since been killed) and District Secretary Shikha Das had gone to the spot and filed an complaint at the Margherita police station. AIPWA has demanded speedy trial and justice and Rs 10 lakh compensation for the victim in this case also.
