Bhadrak (Odisha) Sep 21 (PTI) The 84th anniversary of the Lunia firing incident, a significant and tragic chapter in the history of the freedom struggle, was observed in Odisha on Tuesday.
Nine people were killed when British Police opened fire on a large gathering on September 22, 1942 during the Quit India Movement, in an open field near Lunia village in Bhadrak district of Odisha.
A function commemorating the incident was held on the spot and was attended by local MLA and the state’s Culture Minister Suryavanshi Suraj.
The martyrs were Agani Sahu, Gopinath Jena, Nabakishore Nayak, Goura Jena, Chintamani Das, Shankar Behera, Krishna Mahalik, Shyam Mahalik and Balaram Behera.
The descendants of the martyrs, however, decried neglect of the memorial and lack of proper upkeep of the surroundings.
They also alleged that the descendants had been promised financial assistance, free healthcare and special educational and employment opportunities by previous governments but none fructified to date.
They said the annual observance of the day has been reduced to a ceremonial event, with organisers felicitating them before concluding the programme.
Subrata Sahu, a descendant of one of the descendants of the martyrs, said that the current Odisha government has not yet launched any socio-economic survey of the martyrs’ families.
Lunia village sarpanch Anusaya Nayak, however, said the present BJP-led government in the state has initiated beautification of ponds in the vicinity and construction of a memorial hall near the ‘Shahid Sthambha’.
(PTI News)
