(IN): Mithu– the parrot forgotten a year after Assam blasts

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http://www.sentinelassam.com/state.php?sec=2 & subsec=2 & ppr=1 & dtP=2009-10-30

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*Mithu– the parrot forgotten a year after Assam blasts*

 

BONGAIGAON, Oct 29: As Assam completes a year of the horrific serial

bombings on Friday, the pet parrot of Bojoy Banthia, Mithu’s heroics have

been completely forgotten. The casualties would have been much higher had

Mithu not alerted her owner Bijoy Banthia.

 

Mithu went berserk on that black October 30 morning––shouting and jumping in

her cage in the heart of Bongaigaon town in western Assam. " I knew something

was wrong with Mithu behaving abnormally that morning. I realised the

behaviour was signalling something ominous and hence became cautious, "

Banthia told IANS recalling that incident.

 

Peeping out from the first floor of his house, Banthia saw a motorcycle

parked outside his shop–– Town Stores. " I don’t know what made me think that

some danger was awaiting, I called up the police and informed them about the

unattended motorcycle, " Banthia said.

 

A police bomb squad arrived in no time and soon the fear came true ––a

powerful timer device packed with TNT explosives was found fitted to the

motorcycle. Police and the Army craned the bike to an isolated location to

detonate it, but unfortunately the bomb went off, injuring 11 people, most

of them security personnel. No one died though.

 

Assam was a literal killing field October 30 last year when eight powerful

explosions rocked three districts of Assam ––Guwahati, Kokrajhar and Barpeta

––claiming about 100 lives and wounding more than 500. But not too many

people know that it was Mithu’s warning call that had saved a tragedy in

Bongaigaon.

 

" Had it not been for Mithu’s alertness, Bongaigaon town would have almost

certainly witnessed a similar bloodbath with heavy casualties, as the area

remains crowded, " said Anil Das, a resident. A year down the line, Mithu is

equally alert and her cage is in the same place as last year.

 

" Last month, just a few minutes before the massive earthquake (of 6.3

magnitude tremor on September 21) rocked the region, Mithu warned us by

shouting and behaving abnormally. We knew something was going to happen and

Mithu was right, " Banthia said. Mithu, however, is totally oblivious to the

favour she has done to her human friends and is happy simply with a feed of

nuts and seeds. (IANS)

 

 

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