Sam Stafford was a casualty of police firing during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) last December in Guwahati. His family today is facing severe financial woes with his sister appealing to the public for monetary help for Sam's mother’s treatment.
Sam's mother has been undergoing psychiatric treatment which comes at a high cost for the family.
Sam's death has affected his mother who now believes that her son has gone outside the state for a musical tour. Earlier, she suffered from a stroke, treatment for which was supported by organisations including All Assam Students’ Union. However, paying medical bills and other expenses has been difficult to manage for the family.
"We couldn’t even give her medicines for a few days," said Sadiq Ahmed, Sam's brother-in-law. As such, Sam's sister has written a heartfelt letter to the public at large requesting financial assistance for her mother.
"Mother doesn't sleep whole night remembering Sam. She does not take food and cries all the time. Earlier, she was hospitalised and now again she is under treatment. So we request you to kindly help us and we need urgent financial support. As you know that Sam Stafford has sacrificed his life for motherland Assam inspired by you all," the letter read.
This comes amid the Human Rights intervention to compensate the family. After months of inaction over the matter, the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) intervened and has now asked the state government to complete the investigation into the deaths of four persons in December last year during the anti-CAA agitation in the state within a month. On the failure to complete the probe within the stipulated time, the government will have to pay Rs 3 lakhs to each of the kin of Iswar Nayak and Abdul Alim and Rs 2 lakhs to the minors Dipanjal Das and Sam Stafford as interim relief under the provisions of the Human Rights Act, 1993. The order was passed during a hearing of a complaint filed on December 19 last year by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) chief Ripun Bora.
It's been more than a month and yet there has been no information from the government side. "We were approached by the Chandmari police station once who said that the case will restart again. But we have received no further information regarding the case and about the compensation as well," said Sadiq Ahmed.
The present status of the case is still at the collection phase. G Plus spoke to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Chandra Kanta Boro who revealed that "medical reports are yet to be collected." There are two cases involved in the matter. They are following the one from the police’s side. This directly contradicts the AHRC order that stated the completion of investigation within a month. Upon failure, the family of Sam Stafford would receive compensation. So far, nothing has happened in this regard.
Sam Stafford was one of the five persons to have died during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in Assam in December last. The 17-year-old’s death had created a huge furor with even Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visiting his house.
However, after more than 9 months, the family continues to wait for justice.