PM Oli pays tribute to martyrs

KATHMANDU, Jan 30: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has paid tributes to the martyrs on the occasion of the Martyrs Day at the Martyrs Memorial in Lainchaur, Kathmandu on Thursday.

The prime minister laid wreath at the Martyrs Memorial and offered tributes to the known and unknown martyrs amidst a program organized by the Martyrs’ Week Program Mian Committee constituted under the convenorship of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya.

Prior to this, a morning procession was organized at 8.30 am today.

Government’s top officials, people’s representatives and the musical band of the security bodies set out towards the Martyrs Memorial from local Ratna Park and reached the Memorial at 9 am.

The first program under the Martyrs’ Week was held on January 24 at Teku Kharibot, the place where martyr Shukra Raj Shatri was hanged by the then Rana regime, in the form of a condolence meet.

Similarly, the second program was held on January 27 at Sifal in Kathmandu where martyr Dharma Bhakta Mathema was executed.

The third program under the Martyrs’ Week was held on January 29 at Shova Bhagawati where the then Rana rulers shot dead Gangalal Shrestha and Dasrath Chand.

Condolence assemblies were held in all these commemorative events and rich tributes were paid to each of these four martyrs. KMC has been observing the Martyrs’ Week by forming the main programme committee since 2012 BS.

Meanwhile, KMC has installed the life-size statues of the four martyrs amidst the commemoration of the Martyr’s Week.

The statues of martyrs Dharma Bhakta Mathema and Shukra Raj Shastri have been installed at Sifal, KMC Ward No 7 and at Teku Machali, KMC Ward No 12, respectively, last year before this. They had attained martyrdom in course of the movement for establishing democracy in Nepal in 1997 BS or 1941 AD. RSS

Photos: Mukunda Kalikote/Reporters’ Club Nepal