India, Sept. 1 -- justify;">Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday paid tribute to the statehood movement activists who were killed during the Khatima firing incident, saying their struggle and sacrifice laid the foundation for Uttarakhand. He attended a tribute programme organised in memory of the martyrs, offered floral tributes at their statues and honoured their families with angavastrams.

Dhami remembered Bhagwan Singh Sirola, Pratap Singh, Rampal, Salim Ahmed, Gopichand, Dharmanand Bhatt and Paramjit Singh, saying the people of Uttarakhand would remain indebted to their sacrifice. He described Khatima as an important centre of the statehood movement and said the events at Khatima, Mussoorie and Rampur Tiraha remain significa...