Bangladesh minister to participate in service; dignitaries stream in to pay last respects
he arrives at Walbakgre, residence of (L) P.A. Sangma at Tura, to pay his
final respects to the departed leader on Sunday afternoon. (DIPR)
TURA: All eyes will be on the Dikki Bandi stadium and the Sacred Heart Church where the mortal remains of Garo Hills’ most prominent political stalwart Purno Agitok Sangma will be taken for a state funeral and church service before he is laid to rest at the catholic cemetery next to Bishop House.
As a mark of respect to the departed leader, the Tura Traders’ Union has announced that shops will remain closed from 10 AM to 1 PM in Tura.
Huge crowds are expected to line the streets from Walbakgre, residence of Late Sangma, all the way to the cemetery for the final journey of the departed leader.
Condolences have been pouring in for the departed leader from various corners of the State and beyond.
Tura, which normally witnesses lazy Sunday afternoons, was full of movement throughout the day and well into the night as one VIP dignitary after another streamed in with police escorts and sirens blazing – destination Walbakgre.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma arrived at the residence of (L) P.A. Sangma late afternoon to offer his condolences and lay a wreath on the casket.
He embraced the departed leader’s son Conrad K Sangma and met Sangma’s widow Soradini K Sangma and daughter Agatha along with other members of the family.
The chief minister spent most part of the evening with the family of P.A. Sangma and also participated in the special prayer meeting led by the Bishop of Tura, Rt. Rev. Andrew R Marak and a host of priests.
Bangladesh government minister and (L) P.A. Sangma’s close friend Pramod Mankin is also arriving to participate in the funeral service of the Tura MP on Monday.
Meanwhile, Tura hotels and guest houses have run out of accommodations given the large turnout of dignitaries for the funeral service of P.A. Sangma.
Cabinet ministers from Meghalaya, deputy chief ministers R.C. Laloo and Rowell Lyngdoh, A.L. Hek, Roshan Warjri, Prestone Tynsong, Zenith Sangma, Clement Marak, former chief minister D.D. Lapang, members of parliament Vincent Pala and Wansuk Syiem, opposition legislators led by Paul Lyngdoh, Metbah Lyngdoh and Jemino Mawthoh paid rich floral tributes to P.A. Sangma at his residence on Sunday evening.
Senior BJP MP from Guwahati Bijoya Chakraborty also arrived by road from Guwahati to offer her condolences to the former Lok Sabha Speaker.