Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Panda on his visit to Rourkela had been to Amco-Simco under the Biramitrapur Assembly segment to pay tributes to the 49 martyrs and inspect the progress in construction of a Smruti Stambha.
It may be noted here that after a long demand by the Amco-Simco Smruti Committee, the State Government included it in its tourist map and sanctioned funds for construction of the memorial pillar.
Though the Rs 50 lakh has been sanctioned for construction of the Saheed Smaraki Stambha, additional Rs 40 lakh will be provided soon for installation of transformer, high mast light, flood light, water fountain, deep bore well and lavatory etc in the area, it was known.
While the Minister arrived with Raghunathpalli MlA Subrat Tarai and other BJD leaders, he was given warm reception with traditional tribal dances and other activities.
It may be noted here that, tribal people of the locality used to cultivate in the forest lands for years. As per Khuntkati tradition, the tribals have every right on the land where they develop cultivation, but the then Sundargarh rulers conspiring with the British Government had imposed tax on the tribals in 1931 and doubled in 1932.
Protesting against this, the tribals got united under the leadership of Nirmal Munda and demanded before the Gangpur Province Administrative head Regent Rani Saheba Janaki Ratnadevi to abolish the tax. But she turned it down and sought help from British rulers to suppress the revolution.
On April 25, 1939, when Munda was addressing a gathering at Amco-Simco ground, police forces led by SP Gourishanakr Sekhar Deo and leutenant Commandant of British Government ambushed the gathering and opened fire at them without giving any warning. As many as 49 tribals were killed on the spot.