25 years on, Kargil hero Niranjan Behera's legacy still neglected with no memorial for martyr

It’s been 25 years, yet a proper statue or memorial hasn't been erected for the brave martyr, and even today, the Kargil Shaheed Niranjan memorial site remains in a state of neglect.

Among the many valiant soldiers who laid down their lives in the Kargil war to reclaim Indian Territory from the grip of foreign Pakistani forces, one was Niranjan Behera, the first martyr from Bhadrak district. He hailed from Panguda village under the Utkuda Panchayat of Chandbali block. Today, the soil of Chandabali stands proud of its son.

Shaheed Niranjan Behera, son of Akuli Charan Behera, sacrificed his life for the country and attained immortality. The present generation respectfully remembers his supreme sacrifice and draws inspiration to honor their motherland. However, despite this deep public sentiment, the administration has failed to develop or maintain his memorial site.

Niranjan Behera was martyred on July 26, 1999, during the Kargil war. He was born on May 13, 1971, and sacrificed his life at the young age of 28. Yet, even after 25 years, the martyr’s memorial remains completely neglected by the authorities, leaving the locals deeply hurt.

Every year, the administration merely attends the death anniversary with a garland ceremony, and that is the extent of their tribute. The memorial is in a dilapidated condition, with no proper road leading to the site. To reach the site, one has to wade through a muddy, slippery path, especially during the rains.

Due to this long-standing administrative apathy, nothing has changed. The site is only remembered on Independence Day (August 15) and Republic Day (January 26), when officials come with flowers. The paint on the martyr’s pillar has peeled off, the inscriptions have faded, and the area is overgrown with wild grass and weeds. During the monsoon, knee-deep water surrounds the memorial.

Locals have long demanded development of the site, including:
•    Boundary walls
•    A park
•    Lighting infrastructure
•    A proper connecting road
•    A library building
•    And other upgrades to honor the martyr's legacy.

The village Sarpanch has lodged repeated complaints with the block and district administration, but to no avail.

Adding to the dismay, Shaheed Niranjan Behera's widow, Sandhyarani Behera, shared that despite repeated promises from the administration, no real development has taken place. Instead of progress, the site continues to deteriorate, she alleged.