Former Asom Minister Bhrigu Phukan dead

Guwahati, Mar 20: Former Asom Home Minister and firebrand student leader of the eighties Bhrigu Kumar Phukan today died at AIIMS, New Delhi, following multiple organ failure, family sources here said.

He was 46 and is survived by wife and daughter.

Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Asom Gana Parishad president Brindabon Goswami and AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharrya condoled the untimely demise.

A pall of gloom had descended over the AGP camp, which immediately suspended poll campaign for the next 24 hours as a mark of respect to the departed leader.

Disagreeing with Mr Mahanta, he left the AGP and the government.

In 1991 he walked out with Mr Dinesh Goshwami and Mrs Bijoya Chakraborty (now in the BJP) and former Speaker Pulakesh Barua formed the Natun Asom Gana Parishad.

The NAGP was dissolved as Mr Phukan returned to the parent party within a year.

Mr Phukan launched another outfit in 1998 - the Asom Jatiya Sanmilani.

Later on Mr Phukan joined the NCP and became the head of the state party unit where he stayed for two years.

During the last Lok Sabha poll, he returned to the AGP and unsuccessfuly contested the poll.

He was likely to fight coming Assembly elections.

UNI