Assam Govt to observe August 20 as Sootea Day from next year

Sep 03, 2024

Biswanath (Assam) [India], September 3 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that August 20 will be observed and celebrated as Sootea Day to mark the region's importance in the freedom movement.
The Chief Minister said that the people of Sootea has been observing the historic 20 August as the Sootea Day. "From now onwards, 20 August will be observed and celebrated as Sootea Day with government's patronage where people of Sootea will also render adequate support in celebration of the day," CM Sarma said on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister earlier in the day visited Sootea Police Station at Biswanath District and offered tributes to the bravehearts who hoisted the national flag in 1942.

He said that Sootea has important contribution to the freedom movement of the country. "In response to a resolution of hoisting national flag in every police stations across the nation on September 20, people of Sootea and its adjoining places mobilised themselves by the call of the nation and under the leadership of late Biman Chandra Bora hoisted the national flag at Sootea police station on 20 August, 1942," he said.

Chief Minister Sarma remembered and the paid tributes to the bravehearts of Assam who took part in the Quit India Movement. "Sootea Police Station is a site of immense importance and it inspires us with its rich history during the freedom movement. The police station holds a special place in the heart of every patriot as it was the first government building where Tri-colour was hoisted," he said.
The Chief Minister also announced that the government will construct a heritage monument at the historic site of Sootea police station and announced Rs 5 crore for the project which will feature the promotion of rich heritage of Sootea Police Station and its adjoining areas. He said that a blueprint of the same will be prepared encompassing a garden and the statues of those leaders who took active role in hoisting the national flag as a part of the heritage monument.

MP Ranjit Dutta, MLA Padma Hazarika, Principal Secretary B Kalyan Chakravarthy and ADGP Munna Prasad among others were present on the occasion.