Mangal Pandey, a soldier of Barrackpore battalion, opposed to use the cow-and-pig-fat greased cartridge of the new Enfield Rifle. Indian soldiers who had agreed to join the revolt wanted to wait until 31st May, but 26-year-old Mangal Pandey could not. He refused to use the Enfield Rifle. As a result the revolt began earlier than the fixed date. This disrupted the planning and the objectives of the revolt could not be achieved.
Sargeant Major Hewson ordered for his arrest, but Mangal Pandey shot him and defeated another British officer also. Indian soldiers refused to arrest Mangal. When he was cornered, Mangal shot himself with his own ‘ Sifle. A bleeding Mangal Pandey was taken to hospital to get information about the revolt from him. The British pretended to run a case against Mangal on 6th April, 1857. The entire procedure was purposely in English. Though he was sentenced to death, he did not divulge any information to the British. He was hanged at 5:30 a.m. on 8th April, 1857. Thus, Mangal Pandey became the First Martyr of the 1857 revolt which began earlier than planned.
