Mourning Day observed in Assam on August 16

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Asif Ibrahim

17 August, 2010

A day after celebrating 64th Independence Day, Assam observed Mourning Day in remembrance of those killed in the ghastly bomb blast in Dhemaji in 2004.

A DAY after Assam celebrated the 64^th Independence Day of the country in style defying militant diktats, it was a day of mourning in the state on Monday (August 16). Like every year, the state government had declared day-long mourning in memory of those 18 innocent people, including 13 school children, who lost their lives in the barbaric bomb blast at Dhemaji in eastern Assam during Independence Day celebrations in 2004. Since then every year, August 16 is being observed as Mourning Day across the state.

The state government had asked all sensible citizens of Assam including government officials and employees to wear black badges on August 16, 2010 (Monday). Several prayer meets were also held across the state to pay glowing tributes to all those brave souls whose lives were snatched by the cruel hands of terrorism on that day. Dhemaji, in particular wore a desolate look in remembrance of that gory day will remain in the annals of its history as a gory day on Sunday when the entire country celebrated its 64^th Independence Day.

It may be recalled that on the occasion of Independence Day, on August 15, 2004, people, mostly school children and their mothers were gathered at Dhemaji College ground for Independence Day parade. At around 9:30 am a bomb went off killing at least 18 and injuring many others. The bomb was planted near the college-gate and triggered by a remote controlled device. It exploded when the students, their guardians and teachers were passing through the gate.

Though the banned militant outfit United Liberation Front of Asom had been blamed for the terror act, they have been denying their involvement in the explosion. However, after five years of the heinous crime, the terror outfit claimed responsibility only last year.

Meanwhile, six years have elapsed since that barbaric act of terrorism by ULFA, but surprisingly the charge-sheet which should have been filed then has not been filed as yet. Meanwhile, 9 charges were leveled on 13 individuals, who came to participate in the I-day celebrations. Though the police failed to find out the culprits involved in the heinous crime and punish them for the last six years, they filed charge sheets on 13 other individuals, who came to participate in the Independence Day celebrations in a tragic and shameless display of the bogus system that rules the country indeed!