Assam journalist run over by speeding vehicle, foul play suspected

GUWAHATI: In a tragic incident, Parag Bhuyan (53), a journalist hailing from Kakopathar town of Assam, was knocked down by a vehicle on November 11 near his house on the NH-15 while taking a walk on the highway. The vehicle immediately fled from the spot towards Dirak side of Kakopathar Police Station -- near the Assam-Arunachal inter-state border.

According to reports, Bhuyan was a senior correspondent of Pratidin group and local reporter of Axomiya Khabar and VP of Tinsukia Press Club. He was also the younger brother of Ex-Minister Jagadish Bhuyan.

The injured man was immediately rushed to Aditya Nursing Home in Dibrugarh where he succumbed to his injuries at around 9.50 am today.

Upon verification of some local witnesses and after checking the CCTV camera at the Police Station, it was found that a Tata Xenon green tea leaf carrying vehicle could be involved in the accident.

It was found that the last digits of the vehicle registration no. is likely to be 7881.

Naka checks were carried out in different locations in Tinsukia in order to apprehend the fleeing vehicle till late last night.

The police personnel of Changlang and Namsai districts in Arunchal Pradesh were alerted immediately for assistance.

According to reports, the vehicle that caused the accident belongs to a person hailing from Samaguri in Namsai.

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Police personnel then rushed to Namsai and managed to apprehend the Tata Xenon vehicle bearing Reg. No. AS 23 BC 7881 along with its driver and helper and brought them to Namsai Police Station. The driver was identified as James Murha, hailing from Doodooma in Upper Assam.

During interrogation at Namsai PS, the driver admitted to committing the accident due to negligence near the Kakopathar Police Station last night while returning after unloading the green tea leaves collected from various areas under Samaguri of Namsai in the Rezina Tea Industries located at Rupai under Doomdooma Police Station.

The driver further admitted that he and the helper fled after committing the accident as they were afraid of being assaulted.

The owner of the vehicle is Padma Ratan of Samaguri. Her son Ape Ette is using the vehicle in his green tea leaf business.

The vehicle has been carrying green tea leaf every day from Namsai to the Rezina Tea Industries in Rupai.

The vehicle has been seized and both the driver and the helper have been arrested in connection with the case, Investigations are on.

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