Tributes paid to 860 martyrs of Assam's largest mass movement

Martyrs' Day is being observed across the state today. On this occasion, the song 'Swahid Pranamo Tumak' was performed in all the districts of the state. Today, on this special day, 860 martyrs are paid their respects. On December 10, 1979, Khargeshwar Talukdar was killed in police firing in Barpeta during the Assam Agitation.

         The names of 45,000 suspected illegal foreign voters were included in the voters' list released during the 1978 Mangaldoi by-election. The people of Assam were worried about this and this was the beginning of the Assam movement. Since then, agitations demanding illegal deportation of foreigners have intensified across the state. The movement was led by the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) in which thousands of Assamese youths participated. In this movement, 860 people were martyred and many people were seriously injured. Khargeshwar Talukdar was the first martyr to be martyred in police firing at Bhawanipur in Barpeta district on December 10, 1979 during the historic Assam Movement. Since then the day is observed as Martyrs' Day across the state in his memory.

         Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma today inaugurated the 'Swahid Smarak Kshetra' constructed by the state government at Boragaon in Guwahati. This year's day is being celebrated centrally at the initiative of the state government in Bargaon. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was present as the chief guest at today's event. Inaugurating the memorial area, the Chief Minister delivered speeches on various aspects.