The last rites of NSUI leader Rohit Pandey, who died in a hospital in Delhi on Monday night following self-immolation bid, were performed in his native place, Ramnagar on Wednesday in a tear-tinged atmosphere.
Among others present on the occasion were the Speaker of the State legislative Assembly Govind Singh Kunjwal and the State Congress president, Kishore Upadhyaya. This aside, many local level Congress leaders, students and relatives of the deceased participated in the funeral in Ramnagar on Wednesday. Earlier, the body of the deceased Rohit Pandey was brought from Delhi to his hometown in Ramnagar late night on Tuesday.
As the body of the deceased student reached the atmosphere turned teary as the close relatives of the deceased student leader broke down. The funeral procession began around 8 on Wednesday morning from his residence in Ramnagar.
Paying tributes to the departed student leader, Speaker Kunajwal described it as a tragic incident. “We are all with the bereaved family members. All possible help would be given to them,” he assured. Though the ambience was tear-jerking and gloomy no untoward incident was reported. However, the degree college and schools in Ramnagar remained closed in memory of the deceased on Wednesday. The markets also remained closed till noon as a mark of respect to thedeceased student in Ramnagar. The market associations in Ramnagar had announced to keep the markets shuttered on Wednesday in view of the demise of the student.
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, the Nainital district police deployed ‘adequate’ police forces in Ramnagar on Wednesday to maintain law and order. It may be recalled that NSUI leader Rohit Pandey took the extreme step of immolating himself on November 4 as part of the stir the Congress-affiliated student was staging.