Post News Network
Balasore, Dec 5: Even as the state is all set to observe the 209th death anniversary of legendary freedom fighter Jayi Rajguru Sunday, a row in Chasakhand panchayat under Remuna block in Balasore district is brewing over last few years over the exact location where the freedom fighter was killed by the British police in the most brutal manner. Two villages have locked their horns over it.
History has it that Jayi Rajguru was a chief advisor to King Mukunda Dev-II in Khurda. The British had launched an offensive to capture Khurda in 1803, but Rajguru nullified their attack.
With the help of some treacherous people, British had captured the freedom fighter at midnight in Khurda in 1806 while he was asleep. He was then taken from Khurda to a dense forest near Balasore. There, his legs were tied to branches of a banyan tree. As consequence, his body was ripped apart by two branches.
However, 208 years after his martyrdom, two villages—Medinipur and Anantapur–are disputing each other’s claim on the exact place of his martyrdom.
While youths of Jayi Rajguru Yubak Sangha in Medinipur have been observing his death anniversary at their village since 1989, members of Sahid Jayi Rajguru Smruti Sansad have started observing his death anniversary under an age-old banyan tree at Anantapur. Both the organisations disputed each other’s claim on the place of the noted freedom fighter’s martyrdom.
Villagers of Medinipur said there was thick forest in the area and Rajguru was killed at Baghatota.
Manoranjan Sahu of Yubak Sangh said history text book of the Class-VII has a mention of the place of martyrdom. “This is the real place and the tourism department should declare it a tourist place,” he demanded.
He also said villagers have intimated the matter to the culture minister, culture secretary and the district collector for steps in this regard.
However, members of the Parishad at Anantapur disputed it, claiming the banyan tree in near Bagha nullah where Rajguru was killed.
Jatadhari Mishra, secretary of the Parishad, claimed that the banyan in the oldest one in the area and it is that tree with which Jayi Rajguru was ripped apart. He has demanded tourism status to the place.
