Condition of Assam teen injured in machete attack improves; slain accused denied burial at public graveyard

The accused was buried on the land of a relative on Tuesday evening after residents of five villages refused to allow his burial in a public graveyard.

Image used for representational purposes only. (File Photo)

GUWAHATI: A Class 12 girl from Assam, who was grievously injured in an attack by a young man after she rejected his advances, is responding to treatment. Meanwhile, residents of five villages refused to allow the burial of the accused at a public graveyard after he was killed in a police encounter.

The 17-year-old girl is undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Guwahati for multiple injuries. A team of doctors is attending to her.

GMCH Superintendent Dr Devajit Choudhury said she was showing signs of improvement and was able to speak and recognise her father.

“We are treating her physical injuries. However, she will require counselling to recover from the trauma,” he said.

The accused, Roj Ali alias Ashik, allegedly attacked the girl and her cousin, Madhurjya Barman, with a sharp weapon at Gangapur in Mukalmua on Sunday evening while they were returning from Nalbari town. Madhurjya, a local leader of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), died on the spot.

According to police, the accused went into hiding and was tracked down on Monday. After his arrest, he was leading police personnel to the spot where he had concealed the murder weapon when he allegedly snatched a service rifle from a policeman and fired four rounds. He was killed in retaliatory firing, police said.

The accused was buried on the land of a relative on Tuesday evening after residents of five villages refused to allow his burial in a public graveyard.

Meanwhile, AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya and BJP MLA Jayanta Mallabaruah visited Madhurjya’s residence on Tuesday.

“Madhurjya was the sole hope and support of his family, and his untimely demise has left an irreplaceable void. I met the bereaved parents and local residents, conveyed my deepest condolences and assured the family of all possible support during this difficult time,” Mallabaruah said.

Bhattacharya described Madhurjya’s death as a personal loss for AASU and said the teenager lost his life while trying to save his cousin.