Former Minister passed away

Bhubaneswar, Apr 7 (UNI) Noted freedom fighter and former Minister Pradeep Das passed away late last night here after a prolonged illness. He was 85.

Das has led the foundation of Praja Socialist movement in Orissa and was elected to the state assembly on a Praja Socialist Party ticket in 1953 and 1957 Assembly elections.

He later joined the Janata Party and was elected to the State Assembly in 1977 from Mahanga Assembly seat and was a cabinet Minister in Education and Health and Family Welfare in the Nilamani Routray government.

Das took active part in the freedom struggle movement and was imprisoned.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Industry Minister B B Harichandan have expressed their profound grief at the demise of Das.

UNI