Latest news with #Padal
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Memorial park in honour of freedom fighter Pandu Padal in ASR district
Visakhapatnam: Alluri Sitarama Raju district administration has decided to construct a memorial park in memory of tribal freedom fighter Bonangi Pandu Padal, a staunch follower of revolutionary Alluri Sitarama Raju. They also plan to develop a home stay tourism initiative at his native village Gondipakalu in Chintapalli mandal. For the first time, the district administration officially celebrated freedom fighter Padal's birthday on Wednesday. The district collector, former MLA Giddi Eswari, and others visited his native village and garlanded the statue erected by his son, Siva Raj Padal, in 2012. Since then, the villagers have been celebrating Padal's birthday. Padal was one of the loyal soldiers of Sitarama Raju, following Gam Gantam Dora and Mallu Dora. Padal was born on Aug 13, 1890, in Gondipakalu village to the family of Bonandi Andayya and Bangaramma. He married Lingayamma from the same village at the age of 30 and joined Alluri's fight in the freedom struggle. Padal, along with Sitarama Raju, attacked many police stations, including those at Rampachodavaram, KD Peta, Addateegala, Chintapalli, and Rajavommangi. He played a key role in the attack on British officers Hyter and Clawart in 1922, which put him on the wanted list of British army, leading to Padal going underground. His sister, Ramayamma, helped the British capture him in June 1924, after she and her family members were brutally tortured by the British army. He was sentenced to death on May 11, 1925, by the Visakhapatnam session court, but it was later converted to life sentence. He was imprisoned in the cellular jail in Andaman for two decades till the country gained independence. After his release, Padal settled down in Andaman and married another woman, Parvathi, when his first wife Lingayamma refused to come to Andaman. He was blessed with five sons and six daughters. Padal died on Feb 11, 1974. His children later visited Gondipakalu and met his local family members. The district collector said Padal's statue would be erected, and his life history would be displayed in the Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum, which is under construction at Lammasingi. A stall of tribal farm produce would also be arranged in the museum, and self-employment opportunities would be arranged for the heirs of Padal, the collector promised. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Home Guard fitness test turns fatal for 2 aspirants in Odisha, 4 fall ill
Two Home Guard job aspirants died and four others fell ill while appearing for the physical fitness test in Odisha's Gajapati district on Thursday. The two aspirants who died were identified as Sulanta Misal, a native of Parisal village, and Deepak Padal from Narayanpur village. According to police, the physical test was conducted by the district police at Betaguda in Ranipeetha, and the candidates had to complete a two-km run. After completing the run, Misal collapsed and was rushed to the Paralakhemundi district headquarters hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Padal was among several candidates who fell ill after appearing for the test and were immediately rushed to the Paralakhemundi hospital. When Padal's condition deteriorated, he was rushed to the MKCG Medical College in Berhampur, where he died in the evening. Misal, the only son of Pramila, a widow, was in his final year of graduation. To support his family and carry forward his studies, he also practised tailoring. 'My son had promised that he would clear the test and get the job. But he never returned. I have no one else in this world,' said Pramila. The Gajapati police filed two unnatural death cases and are conducting an inquiry into the deaths. Officials said that over 1,000 male candidates and 200 female candidates participated in the physical test for the Home Guard recruitment drive. The male candidates are required to complete the two-km run in 10 minutes, and the female candidates are required to complete it in 12 minutes. Expressing concern over the death of two candidates, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to their families. In March, a 19-year-old aspirant died while appearing for the physical endurance test during a Home Guard recruitment drive in Deogarh district. Earlier in that month, two engineers and another youth had died during a 25-km walking test as part of a physical fitness examination for recruitment to the posts of foresters and forest guards.
