Police personnel disperse protestors blocking the National Highway in Assam's Golaghat on Tuesday.
The Assam government today said that it will institute a bravery award named after the 16-year-old girl who was killed by Bodo militants earlier this week.
The police today admitted that her body was retrieved about 24 hours after she was shot dead.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi announced Rs 20 lakh as ex-gratia to the girl's family and institution of a bravery award in her name besides recommending her name to the Centre for the National Bravery Award.
"Our government will perpetuate the hallowed memory of the little brave girl who defied the dictates of the killers. Her valour and sacrifice will continue to inspire and motivate the young generation for years to come," an official release quoted Mr Gogoi as saying.
Mr Gogoi also directed the police to launch a massive manhunt to arrest the killers of the class IX student. The teenager was shot dead by NDFB or National Democratic Front of Bodoland ultras in the presence of her parents at Dwimugri village under Runikhata police station in Chirang district as the militants suspected her of being a police informer.
Assam Government Spokesman and Industries Minister Pradyut
Bordoloi yesterday said an enquiry would be held to ascertain the veracity of reports that her body was lying in a field in the village for two days as her parents were scared of the militants.
The police today admitted that the body was retrieved at least 24 hours after she was killed and blamed remoteness of the village and non-cooperation by villagers for the delay.
She was killed on August 20 while her body was retrieved in the evening the next day, Assam Police said in a statement. "The village is located in a very remote area and only approachable on foot," the statement said. The girl's murder followed the killing of five NDFB(S)
terrorists on August 20 at Dwimuguri in an encounter by a
joint team of Assam Police and the Army.