Dhemaji blast: Assam to mourn on August 16

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 11:  Like previous years, the State Government is going to observe Mourning Day (Shok  Divas) on August 16 to mourn the tragic deaths of the innocent school children and others in a bomb blast while attending the Independence Day celebration at Dhemaji on August 15, 2004 defying the ban of the militant organizations, and also other victims of violence by militants.

The Day will be observed by all districts and sub-divisions of Assam on that day. The Deputy Commissioners and Sub-divisiol Officers will arrange for observance of the Shok Divas in their respective headquarters. At 11 am on that day, the officers and staff of all departments and all heads of offices in the district will participate in the Shok Divas by observing one-minute silence in memory of the children and other persons who lost their lives and will also take a pledge against all acts of terrorism and militant violence.

The tiol flag will be flown half mast on August 16 in all government offices, educatiol institutions and in all other places where the tiol Flag is normally flown. A public meeting will be convened centrally in all headquarters involving all leading citizens, members of the civil society and all educatiol institutions to observe the Shok Divas. Ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs will attend the public meetings if available in the district or sub-divisions. Besides this, the Deputy Commissioner of Dhemaji will also convene a public meeting centrally inviting all leading citizens, members of civil society, teachers and students of Educatiol Institutions on the day. He will arrange programme like Sarba Dharma Pratha, offering floral tributes in honour of the departed souls in the programme.