Alluri Sitarama Raju was an Indian revolutionary who undertook an armed campaign against British colonial rule in India. India celebrates the 125th birth anniversary of the Indian freedom fighter. The Rampa Rebellion leader has a mysterious story of his death just like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. 

It is believed that the freedom fighter did not lose his life the way history portrays. One of the beliefs holds that British officials killed Upparapally Veera Venkata Chari, mistaking him for Alluri Sitharama Raju. There has been a growing demand for DNA tests to be conducted to see if the teeth and hair samples match with the family descendants of Alluri Sitarama Raju. 

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It is also based on a belief that Alluri Sitarama Raju unfolded as Swami Sri Paramahamsa Chidhvenkata Rama Brahmanda Maharishi in Bendapudi, East Godavari. A human genetics student at an Andhra University-affiliated college in Vizag has sought government intervention and support in unveiling the mystery behind his death.

Bendapudi Sadhu and saints believe that Alluri Sitharama Raju died in 1988. “We believe he was Alluri Seetharama Raju. We don’t know why he lived as Bendapudi Sadhu without revealing his identity,” one of sadhu’s followers and also his family member, A Varalakshmi said.

According to the records of history, Alluri Sitharama Raju was caught by the Britishers after two years of efforts in the forests of Chintapalli and was tied to a tree and executed by shooting on May 7, 1924, in Koyyuru village. His lieutenant Ghantam Dora was killed on June 6, 1924, and his brother Mallam Dora was imprisoned. 

The people honoured him with the title ‘Manyam Veerudu’ which translates to ‘Hero of the jungles’. The state of Andhra Pradesh has many statues in the memory of Alluri Sitarama Raju. In 1986, India Post released a commemorative stamp in honour of the great freedom fighter.