Appeal to defy militants' I-Day shutdown call

Two days after some northeast separatist outfits, including the ULFA, called for a shutdown on Independence Day August 15, an Assam-based journalists group appealed to people to defy the diktat.

Journalists' Forum Assam (JFA) wants every Indian to celebrate the Independence Day (and also the Republic Day) to pay tribute to the martyrs of the freedom struggle, a statement issue here said on Sunday.

Forum president Rupam Barua and secretary N. Thakuria asked people of the region to hoist the national flag at their houses and at other significant locations.

"The tricolor does not belong to the government machineries alone, rather it is a priceless property of the billions of Indians," the JFA said.

The JFA said many martyrs of Assam including Kanaklata, Kushal Konwar, Tilak Deka, Bhogeswari Phukanani, Nidhanu Rajbangshi, Kamala Miri, Lerela Boro, Madan-Rauta, Hemoram Patar and Gunabhi Bordoloi, among others, laid down their lives for the country.

The forum appealed to the city-based media persons to join the celebrations of India's 67th Independence Day at the Guwahati Press Club Aug 15.

A group of separatist outfits issued a statement asking the people not to participate in the Independence Day functions and called for a strike Aug 15.

The militant outfits included the United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent), Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (Meghalaya), Kamatapur Liberation Organisation, National Liberation Front of Tripura and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit faction).