Ethnic clash victim votes for peace

Guwahati: Monday was an important day for Bikash Tigga. The 24-year-old adivasi youth, who lost his right leg during the 2014 ethnic clashes between his community and Bodos, was one of the 95,11,732 voters across 65 constituencies who exercised their franchise in the first phase of polls.

He cast his vote in the hope that it would help alleviate his suffering and bring peace to volatile areas of the state.

Tigga was injured on December 24, 2014, when police opened fire to disperse agitators protesting against the December 23 massacre of adivasis by militants of National Democratic Front of Boroland-Songbijit. He subsequently lost his right leg.

On Monday, Tigga's younger brother gave him a ride to the polling station on his bicycle, half a kilometre away from their house in Mon Mohinipur village located within the Mon Mohini Tea Estate in Sonitpur district's Dhekiajuli constituency.

"Politicians keep promising peace and development but seldom work towards either. I'm still waiting for a job from the state government," said the youngster whose mother works in the tea estate and is the sole breadwinner in the family of five.

Exhausted after running from pillar to post for the promised government job, Tigga told TOI that whoever comes to power should be able to address the woes of people like him.

"I'd written a letter to the state government for a job, but it came back," he added.

Tigga remembers the fateful day in December 2014 when he lost a limb. Bleeding profusely, he was rushed to Gauhati Medical College Hospital where doctors referred him to Delhi. A month later, his right leg was amputated.

The Dhekiajuli constituency comprises 1,75,210 voters. Nine candidates are in the fray in the constituency.