KATHMANDU: The Martyr’s Week has commenced from Friday.

As part of the celebration organized by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City in memory of four martyrs–Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Shukra Raj Shastri, Gangalal Shrestha and Dashrath Chand, a condolence assembly was held at Pachali in Teku where Shastri was executed by the then autocratic Rana regime on January 23, 1941.

Speaking on the occasion, KMC Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya said contributions of the people who sacrificed their lives for democracy in the country are guidelines for all.

The metropolis as part of constructing life-size statues of the four martyrs this year will install these of Mathema, Shrestha and Chand. Last year, the life-size statue of Shastri under a Khari tree at Pachali in Teku was unveiled.

Shastri was hanged at Pachali in Teku and Mathema at Sifal on Magh 10, 1997BS, for their involvement in the movement to overthrow the Rana regime. Shastri was born in Banaras, India, in 1950BS.

Similarly, Shrestha and Chand were shot dead at Shova Bhagawati. KMC Ward no 2 has kept a five-feet tall life-size bronze statue by spending Rs 1 million.

The then Kathmandu Town Panchayat started protecting the site where condolence assembly of Shastri was organized by keeping an epitaph since 2035 BS.

Condolence assembly would be organized at Sifal on January 27, where martyr Mathema got martyrdom, and Shova Bhagawati on January 29, where martyrs Shrestha and Chand, got martyrdom.

Likewise, a condolence assembly would be organized at Sahid Smarak, Lainchour, to pay tribute to known and unknown martyrs on January 30. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City started to observe Martyrs Week since 2012 by organizing Martyr’s Week Main Ceremony Committee.