Kendrapara: While the nation celebrates the 19th anniversary of the Kargil war as ‘Bijay Diwas’ July 26 to remember those who lost their lives in Kargil War, in Kendrapara it seems the district administration and the government have forgotten the promise given to a Kargil martyr’s family to build a memorial for him in his village.
Resentment brewed among locals against the district administration for disrespecting the martyr.
Though 19 years have passed after the death of Sachidananda Mallick, a resident of Kandiahata of Rajkanika tehsil of this district, the district administration has failed to keep its promise to build a memorial for him.
“My son joined the Army in 1989. Later, he was promoted to Lance Naik. He died in the Trash Sector June 28, 1999. Sachidananda was the fifth Odia who was martyred in the Kargil war. My son has made not only us proud but also our village by sacrificing his life for the country,” said Malatilata Mallick, the octogenarian mother of Sachidananda.
Akhaya Mallick, the uncle of the martyr, said the then Collector of Kendrapara, Nrusingha Mohapatra, had attended the funeral of Sachidananda and had provided Rs 2 lakh to Sachindananda’s wife along with a letter from Chief Minister Giridhari Gomango.
On the second death anniversary of Sachidananda the then Collector, Krushna Chandra Mohanty and former MP of Kendrapara Pravat Kumar Samantaray visited Kandia in order to lay the foundation stone of Sachidananda Smruti Stamba (martyr tower of Sachidananda ) at his village. However, 17 years have passed and nothing has been done, said fellow villagers of the martyr.
It is unfortunate that the district administration and the government have shown disrespect to a martyr. It really hurts the parents of the martyr as well as the villagers, said Akhaya Mallick.
Locals demanded that the government and the district administration should build the memorial of Sachidananda where the foundation stone was laid as it will be a befitting honour for the hero.
Collector Reghu G. said he came to know about this recently and would look into the matter. He said he would personally look into the matter to ensure the martyr’s memorial is built in his village.
PNN