The Assam government extended financial aid to the families of the journalists who were either killed by extremists or are missing in different incidents of violence over the years in the state.
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal formally distributed one time ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of the kin of 32 journalists who lost their lives or are missing in various incidents of violence in a programme at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra, Guwahati on Friday.
Media advisor to chief minister Hrishikesh Goswami and legal adviser to chief minister Santanu Bharali also attended the programme.
The list of deceased journalists includes: Kamala Saikia, Al-Farid Sajjad and Jiten Chutia from Sivasagar; Pabitra Narayan from Charaideo; Kundarmal Agarwala from Nagaon; Kanak Raj Medhi from Kamrup; Parag Kumar Das, Anil Mazumdar and Hemanta Sarma from Kamrup (Metro); Jogendra Daimari from Udalguri; Jogesh Uzir and Dipak Sargiyari from Baksa; Manik Deori from Karbi Anglong; Ratneswar Sarma Shastri and Hari Chandra Boro from Barpeta; Bodosa Narzary and Jagajit Saikia from Kokrajhar; Dineswar Brahma and Raihanu Niyam from Dhubri; Prahlad Goala from Golaghat; Ranbir Rai from Cachar; Prakash Hazarika from Biswanath; Krishna Chettri from Dima Hasao; Bimala Prasad Talukdar, Nurul Haque, Muslemuddin Ahmed and Kaushik Ch. Bora from Hojai; and Indramohan Hakasam from Goalpara.
The missing journalists whose families were also be extended financial aid were: Manikan Das from Baksa; Girija Das and Pangatan Ali from Kokrajhar and Ankur Borbora from Jorhat.
A collection of brief biographical sketches of the 32 journalists, entitled, “Shraddhar Ekajoli” was also released during the programme. A collection of articles by the rural journalists of Assam who recently visited Madhya Pradesh on a goodwill mission organised by the Information and Public Relations Department, Assam entitled, “Madhya Pradesh: Ek Ananya Jatra” was also released in the programme.
