State mourns death of a Congressman

Jorhat: Former Union minister and veteran Congress leader Bijoy Krishna Handique, who died on Sunday, was cremated with full state honours at Tarajan public cremation ground on Monday.
Handique, the only son of eminent scholar and first vice-chancellor of Gauhati University Krishna Kanta Handique, breathed his last at Jorhat Medical college hospital at 12.20 pm on Sunday. He died of a cardiac arrest.
His mortal remains were consigned to flames by daughter Moitreyee at 6 pm on Monday amid gun salute by Assam Police personnel.
Hundreds of party workers, political leaders, representatives of various organizations and locals were present.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said Handique was one of the few Congress leaders in the country who began their political career as students. “Handique was a Congressman. He lived as a Congressman and died as a Congressman. He was an honest, simple and committed political leader,” Gogoi said.
Attending the last rites, assembly speaker Pranab Gogoi said, “The loss of Handique is irreparable.”
Earlier, Handique’s body was taken from his Jorhat Jail Road residence with full Ahom customs and rituals. Government offices and other institutions in Jorhat remained shut from 1 pm on Monday.