MANGALDAI, Sept 7 - In a move to preserve the memories of the 21 martyrs of the Assam Movement in Darrang district, Dipanka Nath, president of AASU on Wednesday ceremonially laid the foundation stone of the proposed Swahid Memorial Park at the same place where all the 21 were cremated on the fateful day of February 19, 1983.
An amount of Rs 30 lakh has been released from the Chief Minister�s separate fund at the initiative of Mangaldai Legislator Gurujyoti Das. In this connection, a public meeting was held at the park venue located towards the south-west of the Mangaldai jail. Addressing an august gathering of local leading citizens, present and past leaders and workers of AASU, family members of the martyrs and representatives of various public organisations, Nath thanked Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and MLA Gurujyoti Das for coming forward to preserve the memories of the martyrs and at same time criticised the previous governments for their attitude of neglect towards the noble cause. He hoped that the project will be a model one for all other districts of AASU to follow.
While recalling the fateful day of February 17, 1983 when miscreants brutally killed 21 people at Thekerabari village under Dhula police station of the district, Nath requested the project implementation committee to reserve a special space for Khargeswar Baruah, one of the young AASU leaders who were among the martyrs of the single day. The meeting presided over by Khanindra Rajbongshi was also addressed by Anupam Deka, renowned industrialist who has been offered the responsibility of the president of the project implementation public committee. AASU assistant secretary Prakash Ch Das was among the few central AASU leaders attending the function along with its chief.
