11 Martyrs laid their lives to secure Bengali as the official language of Barak Valley, ready to sacrifice more lives: Pradip Dutta Roy

The row of controversy regarding the defacing of the Assamese poster in Silchar station doesn’t seem to end soon, as, in a fresh development, the chief advisor and founder of Barak Democratic Forum, Pradip Dutta Roy has been summoned by the police stations regarding the complaint that is registered against him. Hatigaon and Dispur Police station summoned Pradip Dutta Roy and ordered him to be present at the respective police stations for cooperation in the investigation.

“I wasn’t aware of any police complaint or FIR registered against me,” said Pradip Dutta Roy, and added that police is not initiating any investigation against the chairperson of Cachar district Jal Jeevan Mission for the violation of the Assam Language Act.

Hatigaon police station registered a case under several provisions of Indian Penal Code [120(B), 153 (A), 505 (2) & Sec 3(1) Prevention of Damage to Public Property] and asked Pradip Dutta Roy to be present at Hatigaon police station on 25/10/2021. Another case regarding the same incident of defacing of Assamese poster registered in Dispur Police Station under the similar provisions of Indian Penal Code and summoned him to be present on the same date, failing which legal actions might be taken against Pradip Dutta Roy.

While talking about the summons by Dispur and Hatigaon PS, Pradip Dutta Roy said that they could have transferred the case to Silchar PS, as he made this comment in Silchar. Moreover, Srinkhal Chaliya issued life threats against Pradip Dutta Roy, many Assamese organizations also issued threats against him. “Who will ensure my security? Will the CM ensure it?” he asked.

He also complained about the dubious and biased functioning of Assam Police and said, “If they file complain we have to go to Guwahati, and if we file any complaint, police vanish the complain, this didn’t happen before” and added, “During Sarbananda Sonowal’s tenure more than 50 cases were filed against me, I was never summoned there.”

“When we file FIR or complain against Srinkhal Chaliya or Assamese Organisations, they transferred these cases to their locality, why can’t they come here? Even Dr. Tapodhir Bhattacharjee, despite being a former Vice-chancellor, had to go to Paltan Bazar Police station for writing an article” said Pradip Dutta Roy, giving reaction to the summons by Dispur and Hatigaon Police station.

About MP Dr. Rajdeep Roy’s comment on the Poster Defacing incident and Assamese Language act, Pradip said, “Bimalangshu Roy (father of Rajdeep Roy) would have killed himself if he listened to what Rajdeep Said.” Bengali is not an associate language to Assamese, but it is the official language in Barak, Pradip Dutta Roy again clarified.

He said, “We defended our language on 19th May at the expense of 11 lives, if needed we will sacrifice more lives, but we will defend our language”

Pradip Datta Roy filed and fresh FIR against Srinkhal Chaliya of Sibsagr for issuing a death threat and using malicious and false information against him.

The controversy broke out after a few agitating youths affiliated to Barak Democratic Forum, and Barak Democratic Youth Forum, and All Bengali Youth and Students Association defaced a hoarding of Jal Jeevan Mission at the premise of Silchar Railway station. An FIR was lodged from the Cachar DC office regarding the incident. Local political leaders also get into the row and made several statements regarding the incident. This act particularly fumed the anger in Brammaputra Valley, however Silchar MLA, and MP condemned the act and they see a political conspiracy behind this incident. Barak Banga Sahitya O Sanskriti Kendra also gave their statement and expressed their apprehension over a larger conspiracy to change the linguistic rights of Barak and imposition of Assamese.