GOC Red Horn Army paid tribute to Pothorughat peasants martyrs

By Mayukh Goswami

Mangaldai: General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Red Horns Division Major General Sanjeev Khatri who has taken over the command of the Division recently  made an official visit to Pothorughat on Wednesday  and paid deep tribute to one hundred forty martyrs of the historic peasants uprising by offering floral wreath on the ‘Krishak Swahid Memorial’ in military style and honour. Commanding Officer of 14 Garhwal Rifles Colonel Rahul Singh was also present in the homage paying function and briefed the GOC about the history of ‘Krishak Swahid Divas’. He also apprised him about the  project under taken by the government for transforming the site into a tourist centre at a cost of around rupees seven crores. GOC Khatri also enquired about the preparation for this year’s celebration of ‘Farmers’ Martyr Day’ by the Army  in the coming month. Meanwhile talking to APN News in presence of  Bhargab Kumar Das , Adviser Mangaldai Media Circle  GOC , Khatri assured necessary initiative to carry forward the issue of historic Pothorughat to national level following discussion with the Governor , Chief Minister and senior Army officials .

Earlier the media persons greeted  the visiting GOC with a ‘Phulam Bihuwan’ and ‘Aronai’ and also offered him the book’Pothorughat’ written by Padmashree recipient eminent author Arup Kumar Dutta . Mention may be made here that in September last, the then Chief of the Staff (COS) of Gajaraj Corps Major General Alok Raj and in June last, the then General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Red Horns Division Major General PS Behl had also paid a visit to Pothorughat and offered tribute . The people of the locality and the office bearers of Mangaldai Media Circle have expressed their deep satisfaction over the visit of three Major Generals at Pothorughat and appreciated high spirit of the officials

The conscious circle is  well aware that at the initiative of the then Governor of Assam Lt. Gen (Retired) SK Sinha,the army in 2001 had constructed the ‘Krishak Swahid Memorial’ at Pothorughat. It may be added here that this memorial is the only of its kind in the entire country ever constructed by the army in holy memory of civilian Krishak Swahids. And since then the ‘Friends in the Olive Green’ has been celebrating the ‘Krishak Swahid Divas’ every year with full military honour and style. The GOC of Red Horns Division has always been taking part in this ‘Divas’ as the chief guest while in 2005, the GOC of Gajaraj Corps took part as the chief guest. Besides taking part in the ‘Krishak Swahid Divas’ organized in quite a befitting manner by the Army, senior officials of the Army have made it a tradition to visit the ‘Krishak Swahid Memorial’ whenever they could have spared their time.

 Mention may be made here that in September last, the then Chief of the Staff (COS) of Gajaraj Corps Major General Alok Raj and in June last, the then General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Red Horns Division Major General PS Behl had also paid a visit to Pothorughat and offered floral wreath at the Krishak Swahid Memorial. The people of the locality and the office bearers of Mangaldai Media Circle have expressed their deep satisfaction over the visit of three Major Generals at Pothorughat and appreciated high spirit of the officials of the Army. Now the people of the district are highly hopeful that the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) will make a visit to Pothorughat which will take this ‘Peasants uprising of Pothorughat’ into the national level.