Key Takeaways
- The Tripura government halted all programmes as a sign of respect for Samsul Haque.
- Samsul Haque, a veteran CPI-M MLA, died of cardiac arrest at AGMC.
- His death reduced the CPI-M’s presence in the assembly to ten members.
- Chief Minister Manik Saha and other leaders announced a period of state mourning.
Agartala: Tripura government has suspended all programmes following the sudden death of a veteran communist leader.
The leader, Samsul Haque, was a CPI-M MLA from Boxanagar assembly constituency in Tripura’s Sepahijala district.
He suffered a cardiac arrest on Wednesday wee hours at Agartala Govt Medical College (AGMC).
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha who has gone to Dharmanagar of North Tripura in the early morning to inaugurate the 74th State level Vanmahotsav and State level Agar Wood Growers Conclave, said, “I am deeply saddened by the demise of Samsul Haque, and we decided to observe state mourning for the eternal peace of his departed soul.”
He was 68. Haque was survived by his wife, four sons, and relatives.
He was elected for the first time in the assembly in March, this year, though he had joined the CPI-M party in 1972. The demise of Haque has reduced the strength of CPI-M to 10 in the assembly.
According to CPI-M party sources, Haque came to Agartala on Tuesday along with his daughter in-law for treatment. He suddenly fell ill in the MLA hostel around 2 AM, his colleagues and staff immediately took him to the hospital, where he was declared dead.
His body was taken to the assembly house, then to the CPI-M party office, where he was paid his last tribute. Thereafter, the body was sent to his native village, Kolubari, in Sonamura where his last rites would be performed as per the rituals.
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, Leader of the Opposition Animesh Debbarma, Speaker of the Assembly Biswabandhu Sen, Deputy Speaker Ramprasad Paul, and Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman expressed grief over the untimely death of Samsul Haque and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.
CPI-M State Secretary and legislative party leader Jitendra Chaudhury, former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, and Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Pratima Bhoumik also expressed condolences over his death.
