The Bhagirathi Patro Smruti Sadan held a seminar on the historic Papadahandi massacre here recently.Madhya Pradesh High Court Justice Susil Palo was the chief guest while district Collector Md Sadique Alam, SP Brijesh Rai, freedom fighter Md Bazi and District Bar Association president N Ahmed were the other dignitaries on the occasion.
Resource persons Prof Bijaya Mishra, Hari Prasad Tulo and Narayan Panda gave detailed talks on the incident and drew a line between the Papadahandi massacre and the Jallianwalabagh massacre.The Quit India movement in Odisha was at its peak towards the later part of August, 1942. The revolution took a very remarkable form in the undivided Koraput district.
On August 24, 1942, indiscriminate firing on freedom fighters by the unruly British police on the bank of Turi river near Papadahandi led to death of 19 people while it left several others injured, hundreds arrested and many washed away in the flood waters of the river those who jumped into it for safety, they said.
Collector Alam said all necessary steps will be taken to identify the people who died in the firing and necessary support would be provided to their families. Similarly, he also assured all supports for the researchers on the Turi firing.Justice Palo was felicitated by the Sadana. Speaking on the occasion, he said Papadahandi firing is a momentous event in the history of national freedom movement.
He said it will be a real honour to the martyrs who lost their lives during firing if the incident can be placed in the national history. Among other Odia Sahitya Academi member Boolo Hota and Sansada secretary Ram Prasad Patro and Sameresh Gantayat spoke.