Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday felicitated two nonagenarian freedom fighters of Odisha at his chamber at the State Secretariat here.
The two freedom fighters, Sahadeb Behera (96) of Nayagarh district and Nilamani Samal (90) of Jajpur district will leave for New Delhi on Wednesday to attend the At Home function at Rashtrapati Bhawan where they will be felicitated by President Ram Nath Kovind on the commemoration of the Quit India Movement.
The two freedom fighters will be accompanied by two officials during their visit to the national capital.
Born in Kantilo in 1923, Behera had begun a revolt against the atrocities of the Gadjat (colonial) kings on the people in 1938. However, supported by the kings, the then British government had ordered for his arrest. He managed to evade the arrest for about 14 months. In 1942, he joined the Quit India Movement. Long after independence, Behera is still engaged in social service in several areas of Naygarh district.
Samal, who had joined the Quit India Movement, was involved in the attack on the police station at Badachana. He was later arrested by the British police and sent to jail in Cuttack where he was in prison for 42 months.
