The martyr memorial pillar in Rajkanika of Kendrapara district. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, April 23: The government seem to have forgotten their sacrifice, but local residents have not. Nine decades ago, Basu Sethy and Bisuni Madhuala laid down their lives for the country and fallen to British bullets. The authorities here have forgotten to pay tributes to the martyrs, but local residents observed 90th death anniversary of the two heroes in Rajkanika block.

Sethy and Madhuala were shot dead by British police during a peasant rally on April 23,1922. They were among the martyrs who had laid down their lives during the early phase of the freedom movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi.

Responding to the call given by Gandhi for non-cooperation with the British and its loyal feudatory rulers and zamindars, Sethy and Madhual had mobilised local residents against the local ruler. People were at that time subjected to harsh multiple taxation measures imposed by an oppressive feudal ruler. The two were later gunned down by the British police, said Prafulla Das, who has chronicled the local history.

“No official function is held here to pay tributes to the duo who laid down their lives fighting against the British police. But local residents here observe their death anniversary at a simple programme,” said Subhransu Sutar, a local resident.

Former Lok Sabha speaker Rabi Ray had taken up the cause of the “forgotten” martyrs by erecting a Shaheed Stambh (martyr pillar) from MPLAD funds.