People urge Assam government to declare Behali PS a heritage site

BISWANATH CHARIALI: The three old police stations viz. Gohpur, Chatia and Dhekiajuli whose names are associated with the freedom struggle, have been preserved by the Department of Archaeology, Government of Assam, but at the same time the people of greater Behali have expressed their resentment at the alleged negligence on the government's part towards the historical Behali police station under Behali Legislative Constituency in Biswanath district.

The police station was set up in 1913. Responding to the call of Darrang District Congress on September 20, 1942, freedom fighters from Mazgaon-Hatibandha, Rangchali-Behali and Baralimara-Jamuwani villages proceeded to Behali police station from three directions. The processions were led by some of the most famous freedom fighters of the time, including Chabilal Upadhyay, Bagiram Saikia, Molan Chandra Sharma, Bharat Chandra Das, Keshav Chandra Sharma, Sarada Prasanna Dutta, Magur Borah and Rupram Baruah. When they arrived at the police station, the excitement of the rally caused a stir in front of the police station. However, the Officer-in-charge of the police station Sukumar Chakraborty did not order firing upon the agitators on that day as he had reportedly made a promise to his mother that there would be no firing upon his countrymen. Taking advantage of the situation, Tileshwari Mahanta of Hatibandha village managed to hoist the tri-colour removing the Union Jack of the British Empire in front of the police station. Thus, victory came to the patriots without any bloodshed. Unfortunately, the old building of this historic police station was dismantled in 1980 and the present building of Behali police station was constructed by the housing department.

A group of social workers, Sahitya Akademi award winner litterateur, media personnel and freedom fighters have urged the Assam Government to declare Behali police station a heritage site and also to install monuments and statues of freedom fighters in the police station premises in order to pay respect to the freedom fighters and the freedom struggle.

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