ANANTAPUR: A statue of Army jawan Murali Naik, who hailed from Kalli Thanda in Gorantla mandal of Sri Sathya Sai district and died in the line of duty, was unveiled at Shilparamam in Puttaparthi on Saturday. Sri Sathya Sai district collector A. Shyam Prasad and SP Satish Kumar unveiled the statue and paid floral tributes to Murali Naik. The collector said Murali Naik had died while retaliating against Pakistani forces along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir on May 9, 2025. He said the sacrifice made by Murali Naik at a young age reflected his courage, patriotism and commitment to the nation. The people of Sri Sathya Sai district would always remember Murali Naik’s service, he said.