Koraput: The district administration paid rich tribute to martyr Laxman Nayak on his 119th birth anniversary.
Collector K Sudarshan Chakrabarthy, MLA Potaingi and officials offered floral tribute to the tribal leader’s statue in his native village of Tentuligumma.
Leaders of various political parties and people from all walks of life also paid floral tribute at the statue of Saheed Laxman Nayak.
The ex-MLA, the SDC Chairman of Koraput, the Vice Chairman of Boipariguda block, the Tentulligumma sarpanch, the sub collector of Jeypore, the PAITDA of Jeypore, DIPRO Koraput and the BDO of Boiparigua attended the programme.
DIPRO Jagarnath Prasad Raiguru and Satyanarayan Pradhan coordinated the event.
A series of functions was organised to highlight the contributions of Saheed Laxman Nayak to the freedom struggle.
The administration organised a special programme at the district headquarters here in the evening to celebrate the birth anniversary of the martyr.
Born November 22, 1899, in the Tentuliguma village of Koraput district, Nayak was a cult figure among tribals in south Odisha.
He raised his voice against British rule and fought for the rights of tribal people as they were treated very badly by government officials and the police.
Heeding the call of Mahatma Gandhi, Nayak led a procession on August 21, 1942, and organised a protest against British rule in front of the Mathili police station. The police opened fire on the protesters killing 40 and hundreds were injured.
The British implicated Nayak in a case of murder and he was sentenced to death November 13, 1942. Nayak was hanged March 29, 1943 at Berhampur Jail.
PNN