Dhemaji school bombing 2004

What is a school bombing?

The terms 'School Bombing' define themselves, a blast that is intended to affect or damage resources of a school whether material or human, is termed as a School Bombing.

This is one of the most vicious attacks on the face of humanity.

Dhemaji school bombing 2004

Dhemaji is a district in the Indian state of Assam. 

For the celebration of Indian Independence Day, on 15 August 2004, children along with their parents were gathered in the Dhemaji college ground where a children-oriented parade was scheduled.

At 9:30 am, when parents and children were passing through the college gate, a bomb that was planted nearby went off killing 18 people, most of them were children aged 12-14 years and some were adults. The bomb was triggered using a remote control device. Apart from the killings, the bomb also injured more than 40 people very seriously. 

Local people attacked police for failing in providing the necessary security to the college. Police had to fire tear gas and launched lathi-charge to bring the situation under control.

The bomb was planted by ULFA* (United Liberation Front of Assam).

Parthajit Baruah, director of an award-winning documentary film, ''The Dhemaji Tragedy, an undefined chapter" told in an interview that this incident was a socio-political phenomenon. He also said that ULFA had asked everyone not to participate in any Independence day celebration program but the school defied the boycott, and hence the revenge was taken by ULFA.

What is ULFA* - UNITED LIBERATION FRONT OF ASSAM?

ULFA - United Liberation Front of Assam is an organization that seeks an independent Assam. The organization is banned by the government of India and has been declared as a terrorist organization. 

After the incident, ULFA clearly denied any involvement in the bombing. 

But after 5 years of the incident, chairman of ULFA, Arabinda Rajkhowa, came forward to accept the involvement and to seek an apology stating, "...This was the biggest mistake of ULFA. The Dhemaji Incident is a black mark in ULFA history. I apologize..."

What happened after?

1. The then superintendent of police, T. Thangou and Abu Sufian of Dhemaji were suspended because of their negligence. Maybe if they had taken their responsibility seriously one Dark Event of Indian History wouldn't have taken place. 

2. 16 August was declared as a state mourning day in Assam by its then chief minister Tarun Gogoi.

Every year on 16 August Assam remembers those innocents who lost their lives in Dhemaji School Bombing.

3. After 5 years chairman of ULFA accepted the involvement in the Dhemaji School Bombing and sought an apology.

4. Six accused were convicted in July 2019. Out of which four were given life imprisonment under section 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy) and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. And the other two were sentenced 4 years imprisonment. 

However, the main accuse Rashid Bharali still remains absconding.

Not to forget!

This incident was so inhuman and surely is one of the darkest events of our Indian History, but sadly enough we didn't know about it, did we? We always try to run away from History, why? We should learn from it, so that we can be more careful and alert about these things and try to avoid the same in future.

We can't even imagine the pain of those parents who lost their innocent children, someone's skull was open, someone's hand was missing, someone's face was blown up... Dreadful! 

The only Learning we can get from this dark event is that we should always take our responsibilities seriously, especially if it's a matter of life and death. Also, we can't entirely blame the police for this tragic event here. We should all try to be more alert and note if there's anything suspicious going around, especially on the sensitive days.

We will never forget The Dhemaji Tragedy.

We won't let the dark history repeat itself! 

Sources: 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Dhemaji_school_bombing 

http://www.indiatogether.org/the-dhemaji-tragedy-media

https://m.timesofindia.com/topic/Dhemaji-bomb-blast