Papadahandi: The soil collected from the birthplaces of 60 freedom fighters who laid down their lives during the Quit India Movement in Nabarangpur district was sent to Bhubaneswar Wednesday.
The soil would be part of the Saheed Smruti Stambha, a memorial pillar that will be installed in the capital city on Kranti Diwas Thursday.
A programme was held at Saheed Minar at Papadahandi Wednesday on this occasion. It was attended by Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, Adivasi Bikash Parishad chairman Motiram Nayak, zilla parishad chairperson Bhagabati Bhatra, Collector Ajit Kumar Mishra, SP Vivekananda Sharma, state level committee chairman Manoranjan Tripathy and block level chairman of the committee Somnath Bisoi.
The soil collected from various places of the district was welcomed at the programme.
It may be recalled that 60 people of the district were killed in an attack by the British police August 24, 1942.
Of them, 19 freedom fighters were martyred in Papadahandi, seven in Nabrangpur sub-jail, 24 in Koraput sub-jail, two in at the cellular jail of Andaman and Nicobar and eight others were beaten to death by the police while they were taking part in the Quit India Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi.
The district administration collected the soil from their birthplaces.
The guests who attended the programme described the martyrs as the pride of the district and the state. The state is going to observe Saheed Diwas as Atma Utsarga Diwas (A day of self sacrifice),it is learnt.