CPI-M legislator in Tripura dead, cremated with state honours

Agartala: Veteran Tripura legislator Samir Deb Sarkar, of the ruling CPI-M, died here on Sunday after protracted illness. He was 67.

Party sources said Sarkar, who was suffering from cancer, died at the government-run Gobinda Ballav Pant Medical College and Hospital early in the morning.

A bachelor, he is survived by his four brothers and three sisters.

Sarkar, who was elected to the state assembly six times since 1983 from the Khowai assembly constituency, was chief whip of the ruling Left Front.

"Sarkar's body was cremated with full state honours at his home in Singichara in Khowai (under Khowai district)," said a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader.

CPI-M state secretary and party Central Committee member Bijan Dhar was among other senior leaders who were present during the cremation.

A former student leader, Sarkar became member of the CPI-M in 1976 and was a member of the party's state committee.

Describing Sarkar as a front-ranking leader of the Left in Tripura, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said that during the height of the insurgency and ethnic troubles in the state, he led the CPI-M brilliantly and became a mass leader due to his sincerity, honesty and pro-people efforts.

"He was one of the architects of expanding the Left party's base in its stronghold in Khowai," he added.

The CPI-M flag is flying at half-mast all over the state as a mark of respect to the departed leader.