Kokrajhar, Assam: Assam Cabinet Minister Rameswar Teli on Friday visited the homes of the families of two minor girls whose bodies were recovered from a pond in Kokrajhar district and expressed deep condolences over the tragic incident.
Rameswar Teli, who currently holds the portfolios of Transformation and Development, Labour Welfare, and Tea Tribes & Adivasi Welfare in the Assam government, met the grieving family members at Dholmara and assured them of government support.
The two girls, both aged 15 and students of Class IX. According to reports, the incident took place on May 21 following heavy rainfall in the area. The girls had reportedly gone out and were later sent back home because of the rain. However, when they failed to return, a search operation was launched.
Their bodies were later recovered from a deep pond located near a local garden area. Reports suggest that the pond had water levels reaching nearly 11 feet due to excavation work carried out using JCB machines.
Speaking to the media during his visit, Minister Teli described the incident as “deeply painful” and said the government stands firmly beside the bereaved families during this difficult time.
“We express our heartfelt condolences to the families. As immediate government assistance, an ex-gratia amount of ₹2 lakh each will be provided to the families of the deceased girls through direct bank transfer,” the minister said.
Teli also stated that the police are continuing their investigation into the matter. Responding to concerns raised by family members and local residents regarding the investigation process, including demands for a CBI probe, the minister said the issue would be conveyed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
“I will discuss the matter with the police administration and inform the Chief Minister about the concerns raised by the families and local people,” he added.
The tragic deaths of the two minor girls have triggered widespread grief and concern among residents in the district.
