New Delhi, Feb 11 (NationPress) Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Ritabrata Banerjee brought attention during Zero Hour to the significant but often overlooked legacy of 12 courageous freedom fighters from West Bengal, who were exiled to the infamous Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands following the pivotal Alipore Bomb Case (also referred to as the Alipore Conspiracy Case) of 1908-1909.

In his remarks, Banerjee highlighted notable revolutionaries Barindrakumar Ghosh (commonly known as Barin Ghosh), Ullaskar Dutt, and Hem Chandra Kanungo (also known as Hemchandra Das Kanungo), who were part of those sentenced and sent away for life after being tried for their revolutionary efforts aimed at dismantling British colonial rule.

"These are the uncompromised figures who stood against the British colonial regime," Banerjee asserted.

Barindrakumar Ghosh, sibling of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh, created bomb-making units and an underground network in West Bengal as part of the Jugantar and Anushilan Samiti movements. Ullaskar Dutt served as the main bomb-maker for the group, while Hem Chandra Kanungo returned from Paris with knowledge in explosives and revolutionary organization.

The MP pointed out that the 12 revolutionaries, including the three he emphasized, faced severe torture in the Cellular Jail -- notoriously called 'Kala Pani' due to its extreme solitary confinement, grueling labor such as oil extraction, and inhumane conditions -- yet they remained unwavering.

Banerjee expressed regret that these heroes have been "conveniently forgotten," contrasting their steadfastness with others who sought clemency.

"These revolutionaries never wrote a mercy petition," he insisted, stressing that they deserve the respect and recognition owed to their unswerving dedication to India's fight for independence.

The Alipore case, which took place in Calcutta's Sessions Court from 1908 to 1909, included charges of waging war against the Crown stemming from bomb-making and assassination attempts, such as the Muzaffarpur bombing targeting a British magistrate.

While a few, like Sri Aurobindo, were acquitted, Barin Ghosh and Ullaskar Dutt initially received death sentences (later changed to life imprisonment), with others receiving transportation for life.

Banerjee's comments came amid discussions on recognizing Bengal's contributions to the revolutionary movement, which included a significant number of early inmates at the Cellular Jail (around 46 Bengalis among the first groups from 1909-1921). He urged both Parliament and the nation to honor these "uncompromised" individuals, ensuring their sacrifices are remembered in the narrative of India's freedom struggle.