GUWAHATI, Oct 5 - Noted trade unionist, social worker and a leader of the anti-alien Assam Agitation Khanin Das died at a city hospital around 8.45 am today. He was 81. Das was ill for the past about eight months.
A former president of the Assam Swahid aru Niryatita Nyas (Swahid Nyas Bhawan), Das was the undisputable leader of the All Assam Central Semi-Central Employees� Parishad for over two decades. This trade union played an important role during the Assam Agitation in mobilising support to the historic agitation.
Das played the role of a sentinel and used to raise his voice against any attempt to harm the interest of Assam and its indigenous people.
On receiving news of his demise, people thronged his residence at KK Bhatta Road in Chenikuthi area to pay their last respects. His body was taken to the AGP headquarters at Ambari, the Bhagawati Prasad Baruah Bhawan of the Asam Sahitya Sabha and to the Swahid Nyas Bhawan headquarters of the AASU, where members of the organisations paid their last respects.
AASU members, led by vice president Bipul Rabha took out a funeral procession before his last rites were performed at the Navagraha cremation ground this afternoon. His son Biplab Das and daughter Birina Das Barthakur lit the pyre.
In a condolence message, AASU Chief Advisor Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya described the demise of Das as an irreparable loss to the society. Das used to be in the forefront of protests whenever Assam faced any challenge.
Socio-cultural organisation Jyotirupa and Save Guwahati Build Guwahati also mourned the death of Das.
