Port Blair, Jan.30: A solemn function was held at the ‘Balidan Vedi’- the State Martyrs’ Memorial at Humphraygunj here this morning, on the occasion of 74th martyrdom anniversary of 44 Martyrs of Indian Independence League (Andaman Branch), who were shot dead and buried by the Japanese forces on January 30, 1944 for charges of espionage.
The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Mr. Anindo Majumdar led the Islanders in paying homage to the 44 martyrs of IIL. The Director General of Police, A&N Islands, Mrs. Nuzhat Hassan, Adhyaksha, Zilla Parishad, South Andaman, Mrs. Baby Fareeda, senior officers of the Administration, Pradhans, PRI members, members of the Humphraygunj Martyrs Memorial, eminent citizens and family members of the martyrs also paid floral tributes to the martyrs on the occasion.
A two minutes’ silence was observed as a mark of respect to the IIL martyrs, followed by multi-religion prayers and readings from the Holy Scriptures. The students of Middle School Humphraygunj presented Ram Dhun, marking the martyrs’ day. The Chief Secretary gave away Martyrs’ Memorial awards to the topper students of class I to VIII, of the Middle School Humphraygunj.
The day was also observed as ‘Martyrs’ Day’ and rich tributes were paid to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi as well as many other known and unknown martyrs of the India’s freedom struggle in the Islands and elsewhere in the country.
