Assam serial blasts victims yet to get compensation

The wait for compensation for 2008 Assam serial blast victims does not seem to end. The Assam and Central governments have failed to fulfill their promises of compensation even after four years of the blasts. At least 100 were killed and 200 injured in the serial blasts that rocked Assam on October 30, 2008.

Both the governments had separately announced ex-gratia for the victims immediately after the bomb blasts.

On Tuesday thousands of people across Assam paid floral tribute to victims who lost their lives in the serial blasts.

In the blast that took place at Ganeshguri auto stand, 15 auto rickshaw drivers and staff had lost their lives in the explosion.

''Though the govt had declared total Rs 8 lakh as compensation, I have received only five lakh. When I visited authorities they told me that it will take time. It has already crossed four months,” Niru Kalita, wife of one of the victims, told TSI.


Similarly, Pranita Deka, wife of Pabitra Deka, another blast victim said, '' The government at that time had announced a job for me but I have failed to get one. I had applied four times but I was not selected for any government job.”

A senior citizen Haren Das lamented the fact that paying tribute to the victims of serial blasts has no meaning unless the victims and their kin are denied due compensation.