I-Day dampener: Torn and faded flag seen at DC's office, case filed against Jorhat DC

From a Correspondent

JORHAT, August 16: The 69th Independence Day was celebrated with grand fervour in Jorhat on Saturday with the State PWD Minister Ajanta Neog unfurling the tricolor in a function organized by the Jorhat District Administration in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Solanki Vishal Vasant and Superintendent of Police Amanjeet Kaur.

The marching bands of Assam Police and contingents of other paramilitary forces  like the CRPF and the CISF saluted the Indian flag while presenting a spectacular display of the parade led by parade commander Pallav Tamuly, Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Later, the PWD Minister honoured many freedom fighters in recognition of their sacrifices and contribution towards attainment of India’s Independence from the British rule which was followed by several cultural events, mostly highlighting tiol integration and unity in diversity. Interestingly the celebration witnessed the presence of a huge crowd despite a heavy downpour the previous night. Thereafter, the PWD Minister visited the JMCH (Jorhat Medical College and Hospital) and distributed sweets and fruits among the patients and interacted with them for a moment.

However, during the Independence Day celebration, two offices under the State Government mely office of the District Mager, Assam State Development Corporation for OBC (Other Backward Classes) situated at DCB Road and Office of the Assistant Executive Engineer, Jorhat Investigation Sub Division of the Irrigation Department situated next to the Circuit House were found to have remained closed with no officials turning up to hoist the Indian flag. In another incident, despite the non-presence of the official staff some unidentified men acting on behalf of the desigted officer of the Cultural Centre of the Assam Government office situated at Kan Saikia Road near ISBT raised the Indian flag and tied it to a pole of a boundary wall and hurriedly left the place in order to avoid detection, thus creating an impression of the Indian flag being actually hoisted by the officials themselves.

However, in view of these developments, the most horrendous example of dishonouring the Indian tiol Flag was once again reported from Jorhat when an advocate of the Jorhat Bar Association, Gautom Borah first sighted a torn and faded flag flying high on top of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office and later informed the media. Based on the allegations, Sanjay Tanti of CSMSS (Cha Sramik Mukti Sangram Samiti) lodged an FIR against the Deputy Commissioner of Jorhat, Solanki Vishal Vasant and subsequently a Jorhat PS Case no 1745/15 U/S 2 of the Prevention of Insult to tiol Honour Act was registered.

Talking to The Sentinel, the duo Sanjay Tanti and advocate Gautom Borah said, “What the Deputy Commissioner did by disgracing the Indian tiol Flag has shamed us all and we are taking the matter very seriously. Now that the case is registered after news of the torn and faded flag was reported in many newspapers and electronic news channels, we will take up the matter with the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs), PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) and with the President of India. The DC besides doing wonderful job in the implementation of government schemes and checking corruption should have been equally been responsible while dealing with the Indian Flag a day before the Independence Day celebration.”