Dharmanagar Mourns, Seeks Justice for Abhirup Killed in Road Mishap
Dharmanagar Oct 7: A memorial meeting and silent candlelight march were held in Dharmanagar on Wednesday evening, as residents came together to demand justice for 10-year-old Abhirup Debnath, who tragically lost his life in a recent road accident.
Grief and anger gripped the town, with locals and colleagues of Abhirup’s father, Abhijit Debnath, expressing outrage that the accused driver remains at large despite a formal complaint.
The fatal accident occurred on the night of Ashtami (on September 30) near the Fire Service office on Shibanath Road in Dharmanagar subdivision. Abhijit Debnath, a local resident, was travelling with his young son to a relative’s home in the Dighalbak area when a speeding Maruti WagonR rammed into them from behind. The collision was so powerful that both father and son were thrown nearly 20 metres onto the road.
The horrific incident was clearly captured on CCTV footage from a nearby wedding hall. Locals rushed to the spot and took the victims to Dharmanagar District Hospital, from where they were later referred to Silchar for advanced treatment. A written complaint against the driver was lodged the very next day on Navami.
Despite days of intensive medical care, little Abhirup succumbed to his injuries on the night of October 4, plunging the town into deep mourning. The heartbreaking return of Abhijit Debnath — still injured — along with his son’s lifeless body on October 5 night left the community shattered.
On October 6, deceased boy’s father Abhijit Debnath’s colleagues visited Dharmanagar Police Station to seek updates on the case. Police sources confirmed that the vehicle involved in the accident was registered in the name of 34-year-old Souvik Nath, a resident of Netaji Palli, Dharmanagar. The car has been seized, and a case has been registered against the accused under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The condolence gathering, held at the base of the Netaji statue in Dharmanagar, drew participants from various walks of life — including former students of Dharmanagar Government College’s 1995 batch, members of the Life Insurance Agents’ Association (Dharmanagar branch), and numerous local residents.
The event began with lighting candles and offering prayers for the eternal peace of Abhirup’s departed soul.
This was followed by a silent candlelight march that roamed around the streets of Dharmanagar, echoing a unified demand — that the police expedite the investigation, apprehend the guilty driver, and ensure the strictest punishment.
Locals also voiced concern over the increasing trend of reckless driving during Durga Puja festivities, urging the administration to implement stricter traffic enforcement to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
For now, Dharmanagar mourns in silence, united by grief and bound by one shared hope — justice for young Abhirup Debnath.
