Freedom fighter passes away

SHILLONG, Aug 21: Recognised for his contributions during the resistance to the British Raj, Anath Bandhu Dey, who also a former executive member of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee, breathed his last on Wednesday at his Silchar residence.
According to a statement, Dey was born on January 29, 1928, at Balagang, Jagannatpur, Sylhet district.
“While studying in school, as a young energetic boy, he was fascinated by the call of Mahatma Gandhi and left his study to join the movement for the freedom of India,” the statement said.
He was also shot at by the British soldiers on his left hand when, in the year in 1942, he along with his friends, replaced the British flag with the Tricolour at Balagang police station.
Despite Dey’s condition, “he was arrested and imprisoned for six months, and after his release, the condition of his hand turned worse. However, he still participated in various activities for freedom movement. He was also arrested four times between 1942 and 1947.”
“After India got independence, he went to Pune and his left arm was amputated. In 1972, he was certified that Dey was a political sufferer and he started receiving Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension,” the statement said.
It may be mentioned that Dey is also a recipient of Tamrapatra, an award given by the Government of India to recognise the contributions of the people during the freedom struggle.
The freedom fighter was not only an executive member of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee but had also retired in 1992 as Licensing Officer of Shillong Municipal Board.