Daijiworld Media Network - Guwahati (SHP)
Guwahati, Dec 14: Violence has gripped the state of Assam following the amendment of the Citizenship Act. Unfortunately, amid the protests, a 17-year-old boy lost his life in an alleged firing incident. The victim was reportedly returning from a protest venue when he got a hit by a bullet. The teen was hailed as a 'martyr' at his burial on Friday December 13.
Sam Stafford died Thursday night after sustaining a bullet injury at Namgarh area, a few kilometres from his home at Hatigaon, while he was returning from Latasil playground, where singer Zubeen Garg performed in solidarity with protestors against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Family members alleged that he was grievously injured after some people in a four-wheeler fired at a group of people in dark 'late evening'' at Namgarh.
As per senior police officials, the incident is under investigation and the allegations of the family are being looked into.
"My son was a talented drummer and had gone to Latasil playground to listen to Zubeen as he was a big fan," Sam's 45-year-old father Biju Stafford told PTI.
"He was returning home and was walking beside a group of anti-CAB (Citizenship Amendment Bill) protesters when shots were fired. The bullet hit him," he said.
"Sam was rushed to a hospital in Hatigaon by a few good samaritans and from there he was sent to the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital, where he died," his mother Mamoni Stafford (38) said.
Once the body was brought for burial, Stafford's home filled with a sea of mourners to comfort the inconsolable family and bid farewell to the 'neighbourhood's lost, musician son'.
Sam's sister Mousumi Begum was in a state of shock. She was the first person in the family to learn about her brother's ill fate on Thursday.
"I called up Tutu (Sam's nickname) on his number. Someone else picked up the call who did not recognise me. I thought it was a cross-connection so I disconnected. Sometime later, I called up again. And a doctor (at GMCH) picked up the phone and told me that my brother was in a critical condition and asked us to rush to the hospital," Mousumi said.
"Sam (a high schoolboy) was an innocent boy. He did not even fully understand the CAB issue. He had gone there just because he loved music. He just wanted to listen to Zubeen. Though we had advised him not to go as the situation was not good," she said.
Assam Police personnel escorted a makeshift hearse van carrying his coffin to Christian Basti graveyard in Dispur. A traditional Gamocha was placed around his neck as his body lay in the coffin.
As the hearse left home, a friend held out Sam's portrait and cried, 'Joi Aai Asom' (hail Assam).
"Along the way at Namgarh, people lit up candles in memory of my son," Biju said.
Two buses full of grieving family members and friends were escorted to the cemetery, where scores of people from the neighbouring areas had gathered to pay their respects.
At the graveyard, it was a multi-faith gathering and some local artistes and activists of All Assam Students' Union (AASU) were also present.
Two people held out traditional Assamese Gamocha in the air bearing slogans. One was carried by a Hatigaon resident which said "No CAA", while another was held by a Christian Basti local which said "Shaheed Pranam Tomak. (Martyr, We salute you)."
"A local AASU leader made a speech in Assamese and urged people that no protests should be held after sunset as some anti-social elements are trying to give a bad colour to our movement," Swapnav Jyoti Baishya Soud, a lawyer at Gauhati High Court said.
The Assam police, paramilitary personnel and state police's black panther commandos kept a tight vigil in the city which has been on the edge after the Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed by Parliament.
Zubeen Garg also visited Staffords and met with the mother and other family members of Sam.
The singer, who has been vocally supportive of the protest, arrived at Hatigaon, in a special vehicle escorted by police as the situation here remained tense.
With PTI inputs