Guwahati: The 17-year-old girl critically injured in a machete attack in Assam’s Nalbari district is “stable but not out of danger”, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) authorities said.“Hee blood pressure is normal today and the haemoglobin level has also improved after blood transfusion. Infection has comparatively recovered. A few tests are yet to be conducted,” GMCH superintendent Devajit Choudhury said.He added that a multi-department team, including general surgery, psychiatry and neurosurgery, is treating her.Police said the girl and her brother, Madhurjya Barman, assistant general secretary of a regional unit of the All Assam Students’ Union (Aasu), were attacked by Roz Ali alias Ashik Ali near Gangapur village on Sunday while returning home from Nalbari town on a two-wheeler after buying books. The attack allegedly followed the girl’s rejection of Ali’s proposal.Ali was later killed in police firing after he allegedly snatched a policeman’s rifle when taken to recover the weapon in a char area in Mukalmua and opened fire at the police team.MLA Jayanta Mallabaruah visited the family and said, “We all wanted a thorough investigation into the incident. However, the accused was killed in police firing while he had snatched the arms of a policeman and attempted the police team. Yet, it will have to be investigated if there were other people who helped the accused in committing the crime. Direction has been given to the police to investigate all angles.”Mallabaruah said ‘love jihad’ must be eliminated from society. “For that, our govt is ready to become strict. Our govt has brought UCC bill in the recently concluded assembly session, which was passed by the House. We have been putting in efforts to eliminate such type of acts,” he said, appealing for vigilance to prevent similar incidents.Aasu chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya, who visited the family on Tuesday, said, “We had demanded exemplary punishment to the perpetrator so that no one dares to commit such an act. The accused was killed in police firing. The incident has given relief to some extent, even though we cannot get Madhurjya back.”Bhattacharyya said the govt must ensure safety in public spaces. “Madhurjya lost his life while protecting his sister. Such incidents should not happen anymore and for that the govt has to be very strict,” he said.He added, “Every member of Aasu has two families. One is their own biological family and the other is the Aasu. Every member gives more time to the organisation than their families. We have assured the family to stand by them in future.”
