Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, February 21
State-owned power company of Bihar has assessed huge outstanding energy dues on two prominent freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the motherland over a century ago.
The North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited has issued notices against KhudiRam Bose and Prafulla Chaki evaluating outstanding of Rs 1.36 lakh. Khudi Ram Bose, one of the youngest revolutionaries was hanged till death on August 11,1908 while Prafulla Chaki, his accomplice had shot himself dead from his revolver at Mokama railway station on May 1,1908.
Khudiram, along with Prafulla Chaki, attempted to assassinate a British judge, Magistrate Douglas Kingsford, by throwing bombs on the carriage suspecting the target was inside. Magistrate Kingsford, however, was seated in a different carriage. The bomb blast resulted in the deaths of two British women. Prafulla fatally shot himself before the arrest.
Khudiram was arrested and tried for the murder of the two women. He was sentenced to death. He was one of the first Indian revolutionaries in Bengal to be executed by the British. At the time of his hanging, Khudiram was 18 years, 8 months, and 11 days, 10 hours old making him the second youngest revolutionary in India.
The Bihar power company had asked the two martyrs to clear energy bills within a week. The notice issued by the assistant engineer of power supply division, MIT, said they will have to make extra payment for reconnection. Notice was pasted at their memorial at Kampanibag.in Muzaffarpur town.
Power Board officials at Patna admitted the lapse and clarified that the power bill was computer software generated.
