‘Surendra Sai was an able general whose unique organizing capacity and sound military
knowledge had become a constant source of headache for the British rulers. The British
Ramgad Battalion stationed at Sambalpur under the command of Captain Higgins could not be able to face Vir Surendra Sai as he was an expert in guerrilla warfare. In order to crush the rebellion, another battalion of British soldiers rushed to Sambalpur from Hazaribagh of Bihar. Though the rebellion was crushed to some extent it could not
be wiped out completely. Hence, the British Government under compulsion of the situation dethroned queen Mohan Kumari and installed Narayan Singh, a distant relative of Sambalpur royal family as the ruler of Sambalpur. Once again the rebellion erupted at Sambalpur. In 1837 Surendra Sai, Udanta Sai, Balaram Singh and Balabhadra Deo, (the Zamindar of Lakhanpur assembled together at Debrigada to decide the future coarse of action. But unfortunately all of a sudden the British Soldiers reached at the spot and killed Balabhadra Deo mercilessly. Fortunately Surendra Sai and his followers escaped from the clutches of the Englishmen.
In the year 1840, Surendra Sai, and Udanta Sai along with their uncle Balaram Singh
were caught and imprisoned at Hazaribag Jail as life convicts with rigorous imprisonment.
In 1849 when Narayan Singh expired Vir Surendra Sai was still a prisoner at Hazaribag Jail. On 30th July 1857 at the time of Sepoy Mutiny, the rebellious sepoys forcibly dashed inside the Hazaribag Jail and freed Surendra Sai along with 32 prisoners. Surendra Sai returned to Sambalpur and organised the people to fight against the Britishers.
In 1861 Major Impey was appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of Sambalpur. He
followed the policy of peace instead of war and stopped fighting with Surendra Sai. The mutineers who surrendered themselves were pardoned and their confiscated properties were restored to them.
When the brothers and only son of Vir Surendra Sai surrendered, Major Impey treated
them with respect and dignity and allowed them to stay at their village Khinda. On 16th May 1862 Surendra Sai met Major Impey inside the dense forest at night and surrendered himself. He was also allowed to stay in his village.
In 1863 Major Impey expired and after his death the political situation of Sambalpur
completely changed. In place of Major Impey, Captain Cumberledge became the Deputy
Commissioner of Sambalpur. He did not prefer to follow the policy of peace. In order to crush the rebellion from the bud, Captain Cumberledge conspired with Captain Stewart and Mr. Berryel and ransacked the hideout of Vir Surendra Sai on 23rd January 1864 at midnight while he was asleep with his relatives and made them captives. They were taken to Rayapur at the dead hour of the night. Later on Vir Surendra Sai and his family members were sent to Nagpur Jail and finally to Asirgad Fort in the year 1866. On 28th February 1884 Vir Surendra Sai breathed his last inside the Asirgad Fort prison..
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