Uttarakhand is divided into two regions&mdash;Kedarkhand and Manaskhand, which are known today as Garhwal and <a title="History of Kumaon regiment" href="https://www.devbhoomi.live/history-of-kumaon-regiment">Kumaon</a>. During British rule, these areas were included in the United Provinces of British India, and because of this, Uttarakhand was merged with what later became Uttar Pradesh. However, even during the British period, the people of Uttarakhand wanted their region to be a separate state. That is why, even after India became independent, Uttarakhand never fully felt that Uttar Pradesh was its own home.
Uttarakhand became a separate state from Uttar Pradesh on November 9, 2000, but its formation as a state involved many years of struggle and sacrifices. Many tragic events took place during the formation of the Uttarakhand state. Rampur Tiraha Kand is one of the most tragic incidents that took place during the formation of the separate state of Uttarakhand. We will know more about this Rampur Tiraha kand further, but before that, let us know about the history behind making this beautiful state, Uttarakhand.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">The Uttarakhand Movement: Demand for a Separate State</h2>
The Uttarakhand movement was a long struggle for identity, development, and self-governance. The people of Uttarakhand were asking for a separate state to protect their Pahadi identity and culture. The demand for a separate Uttarakhand was raised even before independence in front of the British government. According to history, the first clear demand to create a separate state by joining Garhwal and Kumaon was made on 5 May 1938, during a public convention. People of the hilly regions believed that a separate state was the only solution to their problems. The demand for a separate state rose due to the lack of development in hill areas, unemployment and migration, poor education and healthcare facilities, and the administrative negligence by the Uttar Pradesh government.&nbsp;
A large number of common people participated in this movement. Over time, protests became larger and more organized. The people decide to march towards Delhi, the capital of India, to directly present their demands to the central government. The people believed that if their voices reached Delhi, the government would be forced to listen. This decision led to the historic and tragic incident known as Rampur Tiraha Kand.
<h2 dir="ltr">What Was Rampur Tiraha Kand?</h2>
<img src="https://admin.devbhoomi.live/storage/news/cgOwhFv2X65vksyZlYACLS0hcUTpELQhkoPIhu2x.png" alt="Rampur tiraha firing case" width="1269" height="825">
The Rampur Tiraha Kand was a violent incident that took place when thousands of Uttarakhand movement supporters were stopped by police while marching towards Delhi. Their goal was simple: to protest peacefully and demand the creation of a separate Uttarakhand state.
Rampur Tiraha is a road crossing in the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. While it may look like an ordinary highway intersection, it holds a place of immense pain and historical importance as the site of the 1994 Rampur Tiraha Firing Incident (often called the Rampur Tiraha Kand).&nbsp;
The Mulayam Singh Yadav government of Uttar Pradesh decided that protestors should not be allowed to reach Delhi. As a result, Rampur Tiraha was turned into a checkpoint. Police used force to stop the crowd. Firing, lathi-charge, and tear gas were used. Several protesters lost their lives, many were injured, and there were serious allegations of abuse, especially against women. The Rampur Tiraha firing case became a national issue overnight.
The peaceful protest turned into a nightmare. This incident was not just a clash; it became a dark chapter in Indian democracy.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Date, Place, and People Involved in Rampur Tiraha Kand</h2>
<img src="https://admin.devbhoomi.live/storage/news/mj7Es1QBN3k2nI9Oh0gWInKrdzrrapTlxYKBL7ie.png" alt="Rampur Tiraha Kand" width="1269" height="825">
The Rampur Tiraha Kand occurred on the night of 1st October 1994 and the early morning of October 2, 1994. The location was Rampur Tiraha, near Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh. Thousands of protesters from the hill regions of Uttarakhand were on their way to Delhi.
The protesters included:
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Student
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Women
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Farmers
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Government employees
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Social activists
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On the other side were:
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Uttar Pradesh Police
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Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC)
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District administration officials
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The protesters were unarmed and were travelling mostly in buses, trucks, and on foot. They were carrying banners, shouting slogans like "उत्तराखंड राज्य हमारा है, हम इसे लेकर रहेंगे", "बाड़ी मंडुआ खाएंगे उत्तराखंड बनाएंगे" and singing songs related to the Uttarakhand movement.&nbsp;
During the protest, seven Uttarakhand statehood activists were killed in police firing&nbsp;
Name of the seven activists who were killed in the firing were:&nbsp;
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Ashok Kumar (from Ukhimath)
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Girish Bhadri (from Badripur)
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Rajesh Lakhera (from Ajabpur)
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Rajesh Negi (from Bhaniyawala)
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Ravindra Rawat alias Golu (from Nehru Colony, Dehradun)
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Satendra Chauhan (from Bhalawala)
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Suryaprakash Thapliyal (from Rishikesh)&nbsp;
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<h2 dir="ltr">What Happened on the Night of Rampur Tiraha</h2>
The night of 1st October 1994 was an unforgettable night. It was one of the darkest nights in India&rsquo;s history, when the Uttar Pradesh Police carried out a lathi charge on ordinary citizens who had gathered for a peaceful protest. After that, the police opened fire on the unarmed protesters who were peacefully demanding a separate Uttarakhand state.
People started running in all directions to save their lives. Some fell on the roads, some tried to hide, and many lost their lives. All the buses present there were damaged, and the personal belongings of the protesters were destroyed. The women who had come to participate in the protest were misbehaved and assaulted.
The Rampur Tiraha Kand was no longer just about firing. It became a symbol of injustice, brutality, and abuse of power.
<h2 dir="ltr">Impact of Rampur Tiraha Kand on Uttarakhand Movement</h2>
Before the Rampur Tiraha incident, the Uttarakhand movement was a peaceful protest in which people were demanding a separate state, but after the Rampur Tiraha firing case, this movement took a different turn, and the movement became even more serious. After the Rampur Tiraha incident, public support for the Uttarakhand movement increased. Local media supported the protesters. Students, workers, women, and social activists all participated enthusiastically in this movement. This incident united the people of Uttarakhand and gave the movement a strong moral force. Finally, after so much struggle, Uttarakhand was formed as a separate state on 9 nov 2000. And this Rampur Tiraha incident is remembered as the most significant incident in the agitation for the separate state of Uttarakhand. This incident remains a powerful reminder of the cost paid by the people in their fight for identity, rights, and self-governance.
<h2 dir="ltr">Why Rampur Tiraha Kand Is Still Remembered</h2>
The state was formed as Uttaranchal on Nov 9, 2000, and later it was officially renamed Uttarakhand in January 2007. The Rampur Tiraha kand is still remembered today because it shows the struggle, sacrifice, and pain faced by the people of Uttarakhand during the fight for a separate state. For the people of Uttarakhand, it is not just a movement, but it's an emotion for their own state. Every year, people remember and honor those who lost their lives during the fight for the identity of Uttarakhand.
<h2 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h2>
The Rampur Tiraha Kand is one of the dark chapters in the history of the Uttarakhand movement. The peaceful demand for the formation of a separate state turned into a brutal act of violence that shocked the conscience of the whole country. This tragedy showed the world how much the people in the mountains were suffering and struggling.
Instead of scaring people away, the violence actually brought everyone together and made them even more determined to get their own state. Today, it is remembered as a symbol of the deep sacrifices people made to finally make Uttarakhand a reality.
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A detailed and easy explanation of the Rampur Tiraha Kand and Rampur Tiraha firing case, its impact on public opinion, and its role in Uttarakhand’s formation.

Rampur Tiraha Kand | Complete Story of Uttarakhand Movement