The 77th death anniversary of Sahid Baji Rout was celebrated at his birthplace Nilakanthapur of Bhuban block in Dhenkanal district on Sunday.
The death anniversary of the martyr was organised by the District Information and Public Relations office in association with the Swadhinata Sangrami Sahid Smruti Sansad of Odisha.
Chief guest Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallik spoke on the sagacity of Baji Rout. The meeting was presided over by Nilakanthapur Sarpanch Raghunath Bhanja.
State Seed Corporation Chairman Jogendra Tripathy, Additional District Magistrate Yudhisthir Nayak, Bhuban Panchayat Samiti Chairman Sudhansubala Behera, Bhuban NAC Chairman Swarna Manjari Sahoo, former Bhuban block Chairman Satrughna Jena, Baji Rout Smruti Mahavidyalaya Principal Mayadhar Nayak, DIPRO Manas Ranjan Biswal and journalist Rabidra Kumar Dash also spoke on the occasion.
A marathon among locals was organised from Bhuban to Nilakanthapur.
However, there was grumbling among public as inauguration of a 1225-metre Baji Rout Setu, constructed over river Bramhani at a cost of Rs 44 crore was postponed to December.