Family of alleged 'foreigner' refuses to accept dead body; CM Sonowal steps in

With family members unrelenting on taking the body of Dulal Paul who was declared foreigners by the Foreigners Tribunal, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal stepped in and request the family members to take the body.

It is almost seven days and family members have refused to perform the last rites after Paul who was inmate of Tezpur detention camp died in Guwahati Medical College and hospital.

Paul was suffering from illness.

Paul was from Alisinga village of Sonitpur district of Assam, he was declared foreigner in 2017.

Ashish, eldest of Paul’s three sons, said, “We will not bring the body unless his foreigner tag is removed. We will not bring the body till our father is declared an Indian. If the government wants to send the body to Bangladesh, they can do so.”

There has been series of talks between the local administration and family members however stalemate is not yet broken.

A 12-member delegation of All Assam Bengali Youth Students’ Federation (AABYSF) met Sonowal to discuss the issue.

Hojai BJP legislator, Shiladitya Dev who was present at the meeting said that the chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has appealed Paul’s family members to take back the body and perform the funeral. Dev said that CM will also attend the Sradh of Paul.

Excise minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Dhekiajuli legislator Ashok Singhal were present in meeting along with chief secretary Alok Kumar and other senior officials from the police.