HT Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, April 19: The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) on Monday sought stringent action on drunk driving as enforced during New Year to avoid accidents in the ongoing Rongjali Bwisagu /Rongali Bihu, the seasonal and spring festival of Assam. The ABSU on Monday submitted a memorandum to chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma through Kokrajhar DC seeking action against rash driving, violators of rules and drunk driving.
The president of ABSU Dipen Boro in the memorandum said, “Since the start of Bwisagu/Bihu, several road accidents were witnessed in which more than 20 innocent lives were lost in the state. Starting from the western part of Kokrajhar, where more than six people died due to bike accidents and in Gohpur where five minor students of Bwisagu party lost their lives, the accidents seemed to be a horrible moment during the time of the festive season.”
He said most of the accidents occurred due to driving by drinking alcohol, riding bikes without a helmet, reckless driving, etc.
Boro said the prompt policy adopted by the state government to reduce the road mishaps and save lives during the time of the New Year was a praiseworthy idea for which the state witnessed only a few accidents. He also said the same practice should be taken in the ongoing festive season. ABSU demanded strict vigilance and frequent checking of the drunk driving cases in NH, sub-roads, etc., action against over-speed driving of bikes/scooters, without helmets, compensation to the victims’ families of the Helem (Gohpur) incident and to bring awareness and instructions from the concerned departments.
