2004 Assam Bomb Blast: Acquittal of Six Convicts Raises Questions Over Justice and Closure

New Delhi, August 24, 2023: In a significant turn of events, the Gauhati High Court has acquitted all six individuals who were convicted in connection with the 2004 bomb blast in Assam’s Dhemaji district.

The tragic incident claimed the lives of 18 people, including 13 innocent schoolchildren, during Independence Day celebrations. The blast, which resulted in over 40 injuries, was claimed by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).

The convicts, Lila Gogoi, Dipanjali Borgohain, Muhi Handique, Jatin Dowari, Prashanta Bhuyan, and Hemen Gogoi, had received their sentences in 2019 from the Dhemaji District and Sessions Court. The four were sentenced to life imprisonment, while the latter two were handed a four-year jail term. The verdict sparked an appeal, leading the case to be presented before the Gauhati High Court.

In its recent ruling, the high court stated that the six individuals were acquitted due to the “benefit of the doubt.” The court did not explicitly declare their non-involvement but emphasized that guilt in criminal cases must be established “beyond a reasonable doubt,” a sentiment echoed by the accused’s counsel, Abhijit Khanikar.

However, the verdict has left the families of the victims disheartened and questioning the delivery of justice. A family member expressed disappointment, stating, “We expected that the high court would give us justice, but all the convicts have been acquitted. We are upset.” Another relative questioned the swift reversal, noting, “They were found guilty by a lower court only in 2019, and they are going to be set free just three years on. Is this justice?”

The acquittal has reignited the debate on the intricacies of criminal justice and the burden of proof. As families grapple with the outcome, this case underscores the challenges faced in achieving closure and justice for the victims of such tragic incidents.