GUWAHATI, Aug 16 � The 68th Independence Day was celebrated with enthusiasm across the State on Friday. Our Correspondents report:
North Lakhimpur: The 68th Independence Day was celebrated in North Lakhimpur with traditional pomp and gaiety. The main function began at the North Lakhimpur Government HS School playground with the hoisting of the National Flag by Gaurav Bothra, DC. He also inspected the guard of honour.
The Independence Day parade was led by Kamal Chandra Nath. The Assam Police, 13th Battalion of Assam Police, North Lakhimpur Traffic Police, NCC cadets and Scouts and Guides took part in the parade. In Dhakuwakhona subdivision, the Independence Day celebrations began with the hoisting of the National Flag by Devashish Baishya, SDO (Civil).
Diphu: The people of Karbi Anglong district celebrated the 68th Independence Day by braving incessant rains and a boycott call given by some ultra organisations. Local people came out in large numbers on the occasion.
Assam HAD Minister Kharsing Engti hoisted the National Flag at the Diphu-based Karbi Anglong Sports Association (KASA) ground.
Tuliram Ronghang, Chief Executive Member (CEM), KAAC, unfurled the National Tricolour at Hamren. Besides, the Independence Day was also observed in 11 development blocks including Howraghat. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the district.
Nalbari: The 68th Independence Day was celebrated at the Nalbari SP Office playground. Minister of Social Welfare and Jail Akan Bora hoisted the National Tricolour. Thousands of people came to the central Independence Day programme organised by the Nalbari district administration.
The minister also inspected the guard of honour presented by security personnel and students of local schools and colleges. As many as 10 freedom fighters and three farmers of Nalbari district were felicitated in the function.
A cultural programme was also held to mark the occasion.
Dergaon: The Independence Day programme was held at the Dergaon Naren Sarmah Memorial Field with the swahid tarpan initiated by freedom fighter Ganesh Hazarika. NCC cadets and Scouts and Guides took part in the march past.
The Tricolour was unfurled by the Dergaon Circle Officer. Dergaon MLA Arati Hazarika Kachari was the chief guest. Noted social worker Atul Goswami was feted by the Dergaon Marwari Samaj.
The day was also observed at the Dergaon Police Training Complex where the National Flag was hoisted by the principal of the Police Training College, RA Laskar. The flag was hoisted by Battalion Training Centre (BTC) Commandant Satayraj Hazarika at the BTC playground.
Other training units, RTS, APTC and 11th AP Bn also observed the day.
Namrup: The 68th Independence Day was celebrated at Namrup and its adjoining areas with patriotic exuberance. At the APL, the National Tricolour was unfurled by APL MD Ratul Bordoloi. He also inspected the guard of honour presented by the security personnel on the occasion.
The Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Ltd (BVFCL) also celebrated the Independence Day at Gandhi Maidan. BVFCL CMD SD Singh unfurled the National Tricolour and inspected the guard of honour.
All educational institutions, including the BVFC HS School, Namrup High School, Namrup College, Public High School, Janta Hindi High School, Hapjan High School, and APL High School, also celebrated the 68th Independence Day.
Nagaon: The Independence Day was celebrated in Nagaon amid tight security. The National Tricolour was unfurled at the Nurul Amin Stadium by minister Rockybul Hussain.
An engineering and a medical college will start functioning from this academic session in Nagaon, the minister said.
Some freedom fighters were also felicitated in the function. The minister took the salute of NCC cadets, police personnel and students who took part in the march past.
Cultural programmes were also held. Fruits were distributed to the patients of the BP Civil Hospital and Kamala Nehru TB Hospital, and the inmates of Sankar Mission, State Home, Barhampur Blind School and district and special jails.
The Kalong Kala Kendra, Puranigudam, also celebrated the Independence Day. The Nowgong Girls� College arranged a quiz competition to mark the day.
The CIRC, Batadrava, also observed the Independence Day. An art competition was also arranged.
Hailakandi: Excise, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Ajit Singh unfurled the National Flag in Hailakandi on the occasion of the 68th Independence Day. Singh gave away the Chief Minister�s Best Community Action Award to Hiralal Debnath of Hailakandi who had toured throughout India to generate awareness about road safety, accidents and traffic rules.
He also handed over various products and financial assistance to the beneficiaries under the schemes of the departments of Fishery, Agriculture, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, District Rural Development Agency, Handloom and Textiles, NHM, NRLM, etc. Meritorious students were also felicitated in the function.
A cultural programme was also held at the Nazrul Sadan in Hailakandi.
Goalpara: The 68th Independence Day was celebrated with the unfurling of the National Tricolour by Parliamentary Secretary Bibekananda Dalai at the JTS ground in the presence of dignitaries, senior officials and a large crowd who turned up to witness the Independence Day parade by braving the inclement weather.
Contingents from the Assam Police, paramilitary forces, colleges and schools joined the parade. The highlights included cultural shows at the parade ground and a football match at the college field. The district administration also feted three journalists � GC Das, GS Khaklary and Phani Das � on the occasion.
Mangaldai: Basanta Das, Minister of Fisheries, I & PR, etc., unfurled the National Tricolour in the Independence Day function at the Kachari Maidan in Mangaldai in the presence of DC MS Manivannan and SP Dr GV Shivprasad.
The minister received the march past salute of the contingents of the Assam Police, 3rd IR Mizoram Bn, Home Guards, SSB, NCC cadets, Scouts & Guides, etc. The function was attended by freedom fighters, government officials and officers from the Army and paramilitary forces.
The chief guest feted freedom fighters and distributed certificates and awards to meritorious students, school heads, government officials and VDP members. The CM�s Best Community Development Award went to voluntary organisation, Crystal Vision. Cultural programmes were also held.
Haflong: Along with the rest of the country, the Dima Hasao district celebrated the 68th Independence Day in a befitting manner on August 15.
In the programme organised by the district administration, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), Debojeet Thaosen unfurled the National Flag in the presence of a crowd of around 5,000 at the NL Daulagupu Sports Complex ground. Taking the salute of contingents of the Assam Police, Home Guards, NCC, Scouts & Guides, school students and several other groups during the march past, the CEM paid tributes to martyrs and recalled their valour and sacrifice in his speech.
The district administration felicitated meritorious students of the HSLC examination this year and distributed fruits and sweets to the people. The programme was attended by the Executive Members and Members of Autonomous Council, Deputy Commissioner Barun Bhuyan, Superintendent of Police BM Rajkhowa, Brig SK Jha, Commander, 22 Sector Assam Rifles, CI DS Rupal, CO, 107 Gorkha Terriers, Col RK Singh, CO, 43 Assam Rifles, Pradip Pujari, Comdt of 5th AP Bn, Sontila, Principal Secretary (T&N) and other dignitaries and members of the public.
Later, the CEM inaugurated the extended office of the Town & Country Planning Board at the office complex of the NCHAC at Haflong. The office of the Public Health (Rural Division) was also inaugurated at Sarkari Bagan, Haflong.
Dibrugarh University: The Dibrugarh University celebrated the 68th Independence Day with pomp and grandeur on August 15, a press release stated. The Tricolour was unfurled by the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof AK Buragohain, in front of the administrative building. He received the guard of honour from students of various departments and centres of studies and some neighbouring schools.
A painting competition for school students was also conducted, the release added.
Sivasagar: The Independence Day was celebrated in Sivasagar with Revenue Minister Prithvi Majhi hoisting the National Flag at the Boarding Field. Majhi also received the guard of honour from a contingent of police, paramilitary forces and Scouts & Guides.
Noted educationist, journalist and human rights activist Jyoti Prasad Chaliha and some others were felicitated on the occasion. Sivasagar DC SS Minakshi Sundaram and SP BK Gam were present on the occasion.
Udalguri: The people of Udalguri district celebrated the 68th Independence Day with enthusiasm. All government offices, banks, schools and colleges celebrated the occasion. The central programme was held at the Parade Ground at the DC office complex where Sadhana Hojai, DC, hoisted the Tricolour and inspected the guard of honour presented by the security personnel and the march past by school and college students. Cultural programmes were also held. In the march past section, the girls� contingent of the Udalguri Girls� HS School bagged the first prize. The National Tricolour was also hoisted at the Bhergaon subdivision by the SDO(C). At Tangla, the SDC of the Harisinga Revenue Circle hoisted the flag. The Independence Day was also celebrated at Rowta, Mazbat and Orang.
Badarpur: Badarpur and Karimganj celebrated the 68th Independence Day with enthusiasm. Several functions were held in these two towns and other adjoining places by the district administration, clubs and organisations, schools and colleges, shops and business establishments, etc. The main functions were held at the Badarpur NC College playground and the Karimganj Govt School Sports Complex, where the Tricolour was hoisted by the Badarpur Circle Officer and Parliamentary Secretary Monilal Gowala respectively. The day was also observed in departmental offices of the Railways at Badarpur, offices of political and non-political parties, NC College and Badarpur Town Committee office. The Badarpur Sachetan Karyalaya also observed the day where the Tricolour was hoisted by the its editor, Prititosh Banik. The Badarpur BJP unit also celebrated the day.
Kalaigaon: The 68th Independence Day was celebrated at Kalaigaon with gaiety. Dina Moni Das, Circle Officer, Kalaigaon Revenue Circle, hoisted the National Flag at the Gandhi Bakori Field in the presence of nearly 1,000 people, including Dandi Ram Rabha, MCLA, BTC, BDO, SDO, PHE, Kalaigaon, etc. Cultural events were also staged by the students of the Kalaigaon HS School. Kamal Prasad Sarma, Mouzadar, Kalaigaon, anchored the proceedings. Lamps were lit in the evening in memory of the martyrs of the Indian freedom struggle.
Morigaon: The 68th Independence Day was observed at Morigaon with enthusiasm. Defying the inclement weather, thousands of people thronged the Tarun Ram Phukan playground, where Rekibuddin Ahmed, Parliamentary Secretary (Education), hoisted the National Flag. In the function, several freedom fighters and brilliant students were felicitated. Earlier, the Parliamentary Secretary paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Morigaon Gandhi Bhawan.
Tezpur: The 68th Independence Day was celebrated by the district administration at the Church Field amid tight security. The celebrations began with the playing of patriotic songs through the fixed loudspeaker system, which was followed by the unfurling of the Tricolour at residences, government and semi-government offices and academic institutions. A procession, taken out by the students of schools and colleges, entered the Church Field (Nehru Maidan). It was followed by the paying of floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. Tankabahadur Rai, Planning and Pension Minister, unfurled the National Flag and received the guard of honour presented by NCC cadets, SSB, Assam Police, Home Guards and students of different schools.
People from various walks of life were felicitated for their contributions to the society. Fruits were distributed in hospitals, Tezpur jail, orphanages, etc. Visits to historical places by students below 12 years of age free of cost, friendly football match, etc., were also arranged.
Rangiya: The Independence Day was celebrated with pomp at the Rangiya HS School playground. The National Flag was hoisted by the SDO (Civil) of Rangiya, Anupam Choudhury. A march past was held by NCC cadets, Scouts & Guides, Assam Police battalions, etc. Local MLA Ghanashyam Kalita, former MLA Ananta Deka, government officials and other invitees were also present. Earlier, freedom fighters, noted artistes, weavers, farmers and others were felicitated on the occasion. Later, a cultural show was staged by the students of different schools.