JORHAT, March 31 � A proficient politician of Jorhat during the last three decades in the domain of State politics, Debo Kumar Bora died at about 2.30 last night when the Bolero vehicle in which he was travelling from Guwahati hit a stationary truck on NH-37 at Rangajan near Kaziranga. Bora was 57 and leaves behind his wife, two sons and his mother, besides other relatives.
He was the Agricultural Minister during the first term of the AGP Government. Bora, who had worked as the Press Adviser to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, was going to Jorhat to organize a press conference on behalf of the Chief Minister here at 9 am today.
Bora�s wife Bornali Saikia Bora, youngest son Koushik Bora, Ajit Munda, the driver of the vehicle, and Dimbeswar Gohain, personal security officer, were injured in the mishap. Bornali Saikia Bora, Ajit Munda and Dimbeswar Gohain received serious injuries and are undergoing treatment at Jorhat Mediacal College and Hospital here.
Born in 1954, Bora had been associated with politics since his college days. He was the general secretary of the students� union of CKB Commerce College during 1976-77. He was the general secretary of the Gauhati University Students� Cell in the 1979-80 session.
His political career got a turning point during the Assam Agitation and in 1985 he was elected as an AGP MLA from Titabor LAC. He was the Agricultural Minister of Assam during 1988-90. He was also the member of the Central Committee of All Assam Students� Union and one of the nationalist leaders to sign the Assam Accord.
From 1992 to 1997 he was the editor of the Assamese daily Dainik Janambhumi.
In 1997 he was selected as the vice-chairman of the Planning Commission, Government of Assam.
He contested from Jorhat Lok Sabha constituency as the candidate of AGP for two times. In 2001, he contested for the Titabor LAC seat as an independent candidate.
He joined the Indian National Congress in 2001 and offered his service as the Press Adviser to the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi during his two tenures.
The post-mortem of his body was done at Golaghat Civil Hospital this morning. Then his body was taken to the Rajiv Bhavan, Titabor, Congress Bhavan, Jorhat, Janambhumi office, Jorhat, Chandrakanta Handique Bhavan, Jorhat and CKB Commerce College, Jorhat where his admirers paid last tribute to the departed soul.
The last rites of Bora will be performed on Saturday after his eldest son, who is studying in Australia, will arrive at Jorhat.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, BK Handique, Union Minister of DoNER, Rana Goswami, MLA, Jorhat LAC, Hiten Goswami, former MLA from Jorhat LAC and many other associates of Bora went to the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital to take stock of the conditions of the injured persons. They also wished early recovery of the injured persons.
Bora was also directly and indirectly involved in many ambitious projects like the newly built Radhakanta Handique Bhavan and Siu-Ka-Pha Samannaya Kshetra in Jorhat district.
All the political parties resolved to stop canvassing today as a sign of grief over the premature death of the noted politician.
Various organizations like All Asam Students� Union, Jorhat district unit, Asam Jatiyatabadi Yuva-Chatra Parishad central and district committees, Press Club, Jorhat and the political parties expressed their sorrow for the death of Deba Kumar Bora.
Our Staff Reporter adds: Congress party leaders and activists mourned the untimely death of Deba Kumar Bora at a condolence meeting held at the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) headquarters at Rajiv Bhavan here today. The meeting was attended, among others, by APCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Assam Congress affairs Digvijay Singh. The Congress flag was also flown at half-mast, said APCC sources here.
The Asam Sahitya Sabha has mourned the death of Bora. In a condolence message, Sabha general secretary Dr Paramananda Rajbongshi said that Bora engaged himself in the service of Assamese language, literature and culture, rising above ideological limitations.
He was behind the renovation of the Jorhat Chandrakanta Handique Bhawan of the Sabha as a heritage building. He also rendered help to the Sabha in various ways in setting up its Assam research institute, Rajbongshi said and extended heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family members of Bora.
The Sadou Assam Karmachari Parishad (SAKP) also mourned the death of Bora. In a condolence message, the SAKP said that Bora was a well-wisher of the employees of the State. He helped in resolving many a conflict between the State Government and its employees.
The SAKP has prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the road mishap and for eternal peace of the departed soul of Bora. It has extended sympathy to the bereaved members of Bora�s family.
The Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Samaj has mourned the death of Bora. The Asom Anusuchita Jati Parishad, Shirajul Hussain Saikia, a former political secretary to the APCC president, and Save Guwahati Build Guwahati have also mourned the death of Bora and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the road mishap.
