Amritsar bids tearful adieu to Satyapal Dang

The mortal remains of veteran CPI leader Satyapal Dang, who was in the forefront of the battle against terror in Punjab, were consigned to flames with full state honours here today.
Hundreds of grieving people including family members, friends, admirers and leaders across political spectrum bade a tearful adieu to the former Punjab minister at the Naraingarh crematorium.
Anil Dang, nephew of the communist leader, lit the pyre as a contingent of Punjab Police reversed arms and fired shots in the air as a mark of respect to the departed leader.
The CPI youth brigade, comprising boys and girls wearing red shirts and holding red flags, also attended the funeral.

Earlier, a large number of people thronged the house of Dang to pay their last respects.
Later, the body was kept in the party office for public to pay homage.

Dang, a firebrand leader of the student movement, died here yesterday after protracted illness at the age of 93.
He was elected four times to the Punjab Assembly from Amritsar. He was also the state Food Minister in 1967.
At the height of terrorism in Punjab in 1980s, Dang was vocal and active against the forces of secession.
His wife Vimla Dang, also a CPI leader, died in May 2009.

The couple, who had waged a relentless fight for the downtrodden, opted not to have any child as they did not want to divert their attention from people's stuggles.