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Tura, March 6
A sea of humanity is set to descend upon the town of Tura from the early morning tomorrow to catch a glimpse of Purno Agitok Sangma, the enigmatic leader of Garo Hills, who will be laid to rest tomorrow with full state honours and a 21 gun salute in the town.
The region has been in complete shock over the death of the very popular Purno and condolences have poured through immediately after news of the death reached the people of Garo Hills and have continued to do so since then.
Meanwhile, the CM, Dr Mukul Sangma today visited the residence of Purno along with a host of dignitaries, and paid his respects to the stalwart. Mukul, after laying the floral wreath showed his respect to Purno Sangma by saluting his mortal remains. He spent about an hour at his residence and spoke to the bereaved family members.
Purno will be accorded a state funeral tomorrow at Dikki Bandi Stadium in Tura and laid to rest later tomorrow. The official programme will begin from his residence at 10 am and the state funeral ceremony will commence from 11 am.
The mass service, which was earlier scheduled at Sacred Heart Parish, will be held at Cathedral Church in RC Road.
Shops and business establishments are expected to remain closed as the region seeks to bid a tearful goodbye to the ‘King of Garos’ tomorrow.
A host of dignitaries and politicians from different parts of Northeast are expected to attend the funeral ceremony and space has been a premium. MLAs from across the state, including those from Jaintia Hills were desperately seeking accommodation within the town of Tura to pay their final respects to the MP from Tura.
Elaborate arrangements are being made at the stadium with Meghalaya police personnel doing their rehearsal for the 21-gun salute, which will be given to Sangma with full state honours.
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma, his cabinet colleagues, Nagaland Home Minister, Nagaland Speaker, Lok Sabha MP from Nagaland Neiphiu Rio and other dignitaries will be present to bid final farewell to Sangma, amidst what is expected to be the biggest gathering of people in Garo Hills.
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma, deputy chief ministers – Rowell Lyngdoh, RC Laloo, sports and youth affairs minister Zenith Sangma, Home Minister Roshan Warjri, Rajya Sabha MP from Meghalaya Wansuk Syiem, chief advisor to the government of Meghalaya D D Lapang, Lok Sabha MP from Guwahati Bijoya Chakroborthy and a host of other dignitaries paid homage to Purno Sangma at his residence in Tura today.
Purno’s 93-year-old elder brother Hamerson Agitok Sangma also paid homage to his younger brother. He was seen seated near the casket interacting with visitors and shared stories.
Purno’s eldest daughter Christie Sangma, who lives in Australia is arriving for the funeral tomorrow.
