Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami honored the martyrs of the state’s hard-fought movement on Thursday at a moving ceremony in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. The event took place at Shaheed Sthal near Rampur Tiraha, where he paid respects to those who gave their lives three decades ago.
The tribute focused on the tragic Rampur Tiraha firing on October 2, 1994—a dark chapter in the Uttarakhand statehood movement. Back then, unarmed activists were marching toward Delhi for a peaceful protest at Raj Ghat on Gandhi Jayanti. But police opened fire without warning, killing six people, including Ravindra Rawat, Satinder Chauhan, Girish Bhadri, Rajesh Lakhera, Surya Prakash Thapliyal, Ashok Keshav, and Rajesh Negi. In the chaos, several women faced horrific assaults, including rape and molestation. Mulayam Singh Yadav led Uttar Pradesh’s government at the time.
Speaking at the gathering, Dhami called the incident the most brutal moment in the fight for Uttarakhand’s separate state. “Remembering the atrocities they endured still sends shivers through every resident of our state,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion. He slammed the Samajwadi Party government of the era for unleashing violence on peaceful demonstrators. “Those meant to protect the people instead crossed every line, and those wounds still ache in our hearts,” Dhami added.
He also brought up other painful episodes from the agitation, like the police firings in Khatima on September 1, 1994, and Mussoorie the next day. “The old government’s efforts to crush the protests are etched in our memory forever,” he noted.
Later, chatting with reporters, Dhami described October 2, 1994, as a day “written in black letters” in Uttarakhand’s history. “It reminds us of our martyrs’ sacrifices—our brothers, mothers, and sisters who fought for our self-respect,” he said. “Future generations will never forget their struggle.”
Dhami stressed that Uttarakhand’s birth came from these brave souls’ determination. His government, he promised, stays dedicated to supporting the activists and martyrs’ families. “We’re taking every step to safeguard their welfare and honor,” he affirmed.
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