Jeypore, 29th Sept 2025: Odia soldier Ishwar Talia, from Baipariguda block in Koraput district, was martyred during a tank firing practice. In his memory, a foundation (Bhumi Pujan) ceremony was held today for installing his statue at a location between Bhaluguda and Badaguda in the Kenduguda Gram Panchayat.
Martyr Ishwar Talia was a resident of Badaguda village, under Kenduguda Panchayat of Baipariguda Block, and had joined the Indian Army in 2011. He was serving in the 46 Armored Regiment (Lance Dafadar rank) in Jammu. For tank firing exercises, he had been sent to the Pokhran Range in Rajasthan.
During a tank firing drill there, an accidental explosion occurred inside the tank, leading to the instant death of Ashutosh Mishra (SDM from Uttar Pradesh) and Jitendra Kumar (Lance Dafadar from Rajasthan). Soldier Ishwar Talia was severely injured in the blast.
He was airlifted by helicopter to the Command Hospital in Chandigarh for treatment. However, on the morning of 20/12/24, around 5 a.m., he succumbed to his injuries, and the family was informed via phone about his martyrdom.
News of his passing cast a wave of mourning across Baipariguda region.
Under the leadership of Biswajit Nayak, a former samiti member and lawyer, a large number of men and women, along with dignitaries, attended the foundation-laying ceremony. Attendees included:
Baipariguda Block Development Officer Shakti Mahapatra
Police Station Officer Dambarudhar Batria
Chairman Prashanta Gupta
Vice-Chairperson Purnima Barik
ACO Kartik Padi
Kshirod Chandra Behera
Sarpanch Abhi Nayak
The martyr’s parents and wife
Also present were many local residents and community leaders including Shakti Kendu, Syam Nayak, Jagannath Das, Laxman Talika, Guru Nayak, Lalit Pujari, Purba Dalua, Gair, Laxmikant Pati, Basu Khand, Niranjan Pujari, Subash Khemadu, Balaji Machh, Duiba Nayak, Dibakar Lenka, Adia Pangi, and Budura Pujari, among others.
During the event, Ishwar Talia’s portrait was placed and honored with incense and lamps, followed by ritual worship, devotional music, and patriotic songs performed by Sankirtan Mandali.
The event began with the traditional land worship ceremony. The villagers also demanded that a park be developed at the site and that it should be named in honor of martyr Ishwar Talia.