Assam to observe Mourning Day on Aug 16

Assam will observe state Mourning Day on August 16 to mourn the tragic death of the innocent persons, mostly children, killed in bomb blast on August 15, 2004 at Dhemaji.
The day, as in previous years, will be observed in all districts and sub divisional headquarters and arrangements for the same will be made by Deputy Commissioners and Sub- Divisional Officers, an official release said here today.
Officers and staff of all departments and heads of offices in all districts and sub-divisions will commemorate the day by observing a one-minute silence at 11 AM in memory of those who lost their lives and take a pledge against all acts of terrorism and militant violence.

The National Flag will be flown at half mast in all Government offices/ educational institutions.
Public meetings will be convened centrally in all district headquarters involving leading citizens, members of the civil society and educational institutions where a pledge to work unitedly for peace and harmony and to raise their voices against all acts of militant violence will be taken.
Ministers, MPs and MLAs have been requested to attend the programmes in the districts/ sub divisions.
Dhemaji Deputy Commissioner will also convene a public meeting inviting leading citizens, members of the civil society and students of educational institutions.
Altogether 18 people, mostly school children, were killed and several others injured in a bomb blast by ULFA militants at the Dhemaji College Ground where the district's central Independence Day celebrations were being held. The ULFA later apologised for the killings.