Freedom fighter dies

Nainital, Feb 4 (PTI) Freedom fighter Banke Lal Consuldied here after a prolonged illness, family sources said.

Consul, who was 99, passed away yesterday.

He is survived by two sons and two daughters.

Born in 1911, Consul, a true Gandhian, took an activepart in the country''s freedom struggle and was jailed severaltimes.

Consul graduated from the Aligarh Muslim Universityand later helped in establishing the Arya Samaj movement inUttarakhand.

His mortal remains were consigned to flames with fullstate honours in the district today.

Condoling Consul''s death, Uttarakhand GovernorMargaret Alva said it was an irreparable loss to the nation.