DefMin, EAMin mourn death of Amitabh Chakrabarti

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) Defence Minister AK Antony today expressed deep sorrow at the untimely death of Registrar of Newspapers in India Amitabh Chakrabarti in Varanasi following a heart attack.

In a condolence message, Minister Antony said the stint of Chakrabarti as head of the Publicity Wing of the Defence Ministry would be remembered for a long time to come. ''Chakrabarti, who served commendably in various capacities, has left a void which will be hard to fill....'' Amitabh Chakrabarti died early yesterday in Varanasi following a severe heart attack. He was 59.

In a separate message, External Affairs Minister -- and former Defence Minister -- Pranab Mukherjee described Chakrabarti as ''a sincere and upright officer whose career in the Indian Information Service was exemplary for its brilliance''.

Earlier in the day, Mr Mukherjee and Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutta visited the residence of Chakrabarti to pay their respects.

The body of Chakrabarti was consigned to the flames here this afternoon.

Defence Secretary Dutta and a large number of friends, relatives, colleagues and mediapersons paid their last respects at the Lodhi Road cremation ground.

UNI