Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) The mother of an Assamese student leader whose murder was allegedly plotted by sacked state education minister Ripun Bora hopes that his dramatic arrest will finally help her to get justice. After eight years of trauma, the aged Silonti is hopeful that justice will prevail in Daniel Topno’s murder probe. Bora, arrested Tuesday, is now in the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The disgraced politician was arrested Tuesday in New Delhi on charges of trying to bribe a CBI official probing the murder. He allegedly offered Rs.1 million to the official.

Speaking in Assamese, Silonti told IANS Wednesday over telephone from Assam that she was confident the case would reach its logical conclusion.

“I want justice. The arrest of Bora, a suspect in my son’s murder, gives me hope that the case is going in the right direction,” Silonti said from No. 5 College Guri village, near Gohpur at Tezpur district.

“All that I want is an impartial probe to find out the truth.

“Since the time of my son’s death, we were struggling to get justice. I was even pressurised by Bora to convince my other son to withdraw the high court case seeking a CBI probe into the murder,” said Silonti.

“The arrest of Bora is a testimony that he is involved in the crime,” she added.

“My son was always vocal against Bora’s corrupt policies. Perhaps that is why they killed my son,” said the sobbing Silonti.

Then district president of the All Assam Tea Tribe Students Union, Topno was Bora’s rival candidate in Gohpur constituency during the 1996 Assam assembly elections.

Topno was returning home Sep 27, 2000 from Gohpur town when unknown men attacked him with sharp-edged weapons, causing severe injuries on his head and abdomen leading to his death.

The CBI is looking for a man they say is the main accused in the murder case.