After 107 years, the Last Post was sounded in the memory of the martyrs of Patharighat in Darrang district in Lower Assam by the buglers of the Assam Regiment. In a solemn ceremony witnessed by nearly ten thousand people, the Governor of Assam, Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha dedicated the Patharighat Martyrs Memorial .

It was here on January 28, 1894 that local peasants revolted against increase in land revenue. Unarmed but resolute they stood up to the British might. In a desperate attempt to curb the agitation , the British massacred the peasants. In the ensuing firing ordered by the then DC of Darrang , Mr Anderson, 140 peasants achieved martyrdom and 150 were injured. The martyrs irrespective of their casted and creed were buried together in a mass grave. That stands as a ‘benchmark` in the history of India’s freedom struggle. But unfortunately not much was known to the rest of the country about the peasants struggle in the remote corner of the country. A
unit of the Red Horns Division located in Mangaldai organised the task of rebuilding the memorial for those who were almost in oblivion.

From the "Elegy written in the Village Churchyard’’ emerged a glittering black granite structure with the names of martyrs etched in gold. The Army was the guiding force in getting Patharighat villagers and the district administration execute the project.

The Army attributed the success to the excellent team work of civil administration and the Army. The Commanding Officer of the battalion which executed the project said that the district administration worked hand-in-hand with the Army. A major share of the funds came from the district authorities.

The Governor of Assam, Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha while dedicating the Memorial recalled the glorious contribution of the people of Assam to India’s freedom struggle. The GOC, Red Horn Division, Maj Gen A S Jamwal said that it was a great pride to be able to honour the martyrs of Patharighat.

As part of the drive to help the rural population in the insurgency-affected Assam, an artillery unit of Red Horns Division of the Army conducted a medical camp at Jitra near Nowgaon Medical specialists in medicine, ENT, eye, gynaecology, radiology and pathology were available to provide the much needed medical cover. X- Ray and laboratory facilities were also available.

Medical awareness classes on small family norms, health and hygiene were also conducted by the Army doctors. Medical comforts and medicines were distributed free of cost. Brig R S Sujlana, Commander Chindits Brigade inaugurated the camp. About 10,000 people were benefited by this medical camp.

The Red Horns Division conducted a Defence Correspondents Capsule(DCC) at Guwahati, Assam for 30 print and electronic media personnel. The aim of the DCC was to acquaint media-persons with the basic organisation, functioning and role of Armed Forces in low intensity conflict operations ( LICO)by organising lecture, discussions, visit to Army units and formations in forward areas and AF Station, Borjhar. During the DCC, there was a wide ranging discussion on ways of improving relations between Army and media.

The capsule was conducted in two parts. Part 1 was organised at Guwahati, which included lectures and panel discussion on organisation of Army, rank structure, order of precedence and human rights aspects. In addition, there was an equipment and weapon display and a fire-power demonstration at Darranga Mela. In part II programme the participants visited the formations and units at Arunachal Pradesh. This gave mediapersons an exposure to troops deployed in forward areas. Maj Gen AS Jamwal, GOC Red Horns Division, in his opening address, stressed the need for a balanced reporting on counter-insurgency operations. He highlighted the role of media in Kargil conflict.

The participants said that the capsule gave them an opportunity to understand the functioning of the Defence Services.

The No 2 Workshop of Assam Rifles under Mizoram Range launched a fully air-conditioned mobile computer van nicknamed "Shakti Vahini". The scheme has been launched to train higher secondary rural boys and girls who have no access to computer . A total of 650 students have been enrolled who are being covered in various phases. A total of 104 students are being covered in the first phase of the programme.