Indian Prime Minister recently paid a visit to the historic martyr town of Dhekiajuli in Assam, to lay the foundation stone for two medical colleges and launch a road and highway project.
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Dhekiajuli is associated with the Quit India Movement of 1942.
Dhekiajuli was home to possibly the youngest martyr of the Indian freedom struggle.
On September 20, 1942, as part of the Quit India movement, processions of freedom fighters marched to various police stations across several towns in Assam.
These squads, which were known as ‘Mrityu Bahini’, or death squads, had wide participation — including women and children — and set out to unfurl the tricolor atop police stations, seen as symbols of colonial power.
The British administration came down heavily on them.
In Dhekiajuli, at least 15 people were shot dead, three of them women, including the 12-year-old Tileswari Barua.
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September 20 has for long been observed as Martyrs’ Day in Dhekiajuli town.
Recently, the Dhekiajuli police station was accorded heritage status and restored by the Assam government.
