Kakori conspiracy memorial cries for attention

Kakori, Aug 10: A monument constructed to commemorate the martyrs who laid down their lives during the Kakori Conspiracy against the then British colonial rulers is crying for attention, even as India gets set to celebrate its 61st Independence Day.

The freedom fighters who laid down their lives include Ashfaqullah Khan, Ramprasad Bismil, Roshan Singh and Rajendra Lahiri. Thanks to official apathy, the cenotaph wears a deserted look and only few attend to its care. What should have been a place to be visited frequently, has become forlorn and neglected. The amenities for visitors too are appalling.

"This place is cleaned once in a while when some function takes place here. The road is in bad shape and so is the park. The entire place is in a dilapidated condition," said Aslam, a resident.

Not only the roads and the ungainly premises reflect the indifference of the officials, but the busts of India's freedom struggle heroes too suffer neglect.

"These sculptures of the freedom fighters need to be renovated. A lot of people come here and make many promises, but in reality, nothing happens. Money is granted for the memorial but barely half of the amount is spent on the memorial," claimed Aqueel, a resident.

On August 9, 1925, revolutionaries executed their plan of robbing a train carrying treasury money near the Kakori station. They included Chandrasekhar Azad, Ashfaqullah Khan, Ramprasad Bismil, Roshan Singh and Rajendra Lahiri.

Police later arrested a large number of them and tried them in what became famous as the Kakori Conspiracy case.

Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendra Lahiri, Roshan Singh were hanged. Chandra Shekhar Azad shot himself during an encounter with the police in 1931.

ANI