'Sok Divas' in Assam on Aug 16

'Sok Divas' (day of grief) will be observed in Assam and the national flag flown half mast on August 16 to mourn the death of innocents killed in a bomb blast while attending Independence Day celebrations at Dhemaji defying a boycott call by militants 12 years ago and also other victims of militant violence.
"All district deputy commissioners and sub-divisional officers (civil) will observe 'Sok Divas' in their respective headquarters along with officers and staff," a government release said here today.
They will observe a one minute silence in memory of the children and other persons who lost their lives in extremist violence and the officers and staff will pledge against all acts of terrorism and militant violence, the release said.

The national flag will be flown half mast in all government offices, educational institutions and in other places where the Tricolour is normally flown, it said.
Public meetings will also be convened in all district head quarters, including Dhemaji, involve all leading citizens, members of the civil society and teachers and students of educational institutions.
All ministers, parliamentary secretaries, MPs and MLAs will attend the public meetings if available in the districts, the release said.
All faith prayers would be held, floral tributes offered and pledge would be taken to work unitedly for peace and harmony in the state and raise their voices against all acts of militant and extremist violence, it added.

18 people, mostly school children aged between 12 and 14 years and their mothers, were killed and several others injured in a bomb blast by ULFA at Dhemaji College ground where they had gathered for Independence Day celebrations in 2004.