Silchar, May 19: Language Martyrs Day was observed today across the Barak Valley to commemorate the death of 11 persons on May 19, 1961, during an agitation demanding the repeal of the Assam Official Language Act, 1960, that made Assamese a compulsory language in the Bengali-dominated valley.

People from different walks of life gathered in large numbers this morning at Silchar railway station - where the police had fired at 11 protesters - to pay their homage at the martyrs' memorial.

People also assembled at Silchar cremation ground where the last rites of the martyrs had been performed and paid floral tributes at the commemorative plaque.

Long queues could be seen at Gandhi Park in the afternoon to pay homage at the main martyrs' column at 2.30pm, when the firing took place in 1961.

The day was marked with cultural programmes like recitation of poems, songs, street plays, release of books and souvenirs, among others.

The Barak Valley Voluntary Blood Donors' Forum organised a blood donation camp on the premises of Silchar railway station.

Work in state government offices in Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts was suspended after 1pm as a mark of respect to the "language martyrs".

The members of the All India Democratic Students' Organisation took out a march past and offered guard of honour to the martyrs at Gandhi Park.

The general secretary of Bhasha Swahid Station Swahid Smaran Samiti, Rajib Kar, told The Telegraph here that language martyrs' day belonged to every individual and it was a day on which everyone should pay tribute to their respective mother tongues.

He reiterated the demand to rename Silchar railway station as Bhasha Swahid Station (language martyrs' station).

Sammilita Sangskritik Mancha, an umbrella of 25 social and cultural organisations of the valley, held a daylong programme on the occasion.

The Mancha expressed concern over the ongoing process of updating the National Register of Citizens, 1951, in Assam.

"We will not tolerate harassment of any bona fide citizen in the NRC process," said Ajoy Roy, the secretary of the Mancha.

Several programmes were held today in Karimganj and Hailakandi districts as well.

Assam University also organised a cultural programme at Bipin Chandra Paul auditorium on its Dargakona campus, 25km from here.