Freedom fighter Balkrishna Mahadev Bhonsle, whose legacy is showcased at the Sinquerim-based Aguad Interactive Museum: Goa – The Land, The Struggle, The People, was born in Pomburpa, Bardez, on July 12, 1926, to Mahadev Bhonsle. Educated up to the Marathi primary and English secondary level, he served in the British Army before voluntarily retiring in 1945. Influenced by Mohan Ranade, he joined the Azad Gomantak Dal in September 1954, participating in several daring attacks, including those on the Aldona police station (May 27, 1955), the Pali mines (June 30, 1955) and the Betim police station (October 26, 1955). He later joined the Goa Liberation Army and took part in the attack on Portuguese police at Chorao on February 5, 1956. On December 5, 1956, he attacked the Pomburpa police station, where he was fatally struck by bullets that were mistakenly fired by one of his own associates. He was tried posthumously by the Tribunal Militar Territorial (TMT) and sentenced to 24 years' rigorous imprisonment. He was honoured posthumously by the Government of Goa, Daman and Diu on June 18, 1983.
