A pall of gloom descended over Meghalaya and especially in Shillong when the mortal remains of Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Donkupar Roy was brought to his hometown on July 29.
Roy, who had earlier held the post of chief minister, passed away on Sunday at Mendata hospital in Gurgaon on Sunday following multiple organ failure.
The mortal remains of Roy were brought to Tura from Assam’s Guwahati International Airport after being there from New Delhi.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, senior cabinet ministers along with Roy’s family members accompanied the casket from New Delhi to Shillong.
Roy’s official residence near Crinoline Falls witnessed a sea of humanity as thousands of people from all walks of life had gathered there to receive the mortal remains and show their solidarity to the bereaved family.
Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma and legislators cutting across party lines also assembled at Roy’s residence and offered their condolences to the bereaved family.
Meanwhile, the ruling coalition partners of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government held a condolence meeting at the state secretariat and recalled the contributions of Roy towards the state.
Roy, who was heading the United Democratic Party, is a key partner in the ruling National People’s Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.
The MDA legislators also observed two-minutes silence in respect to the departed legislator.
Chief Secretary PS Thangkhiew said the government has declared three days state mourning from July 29-31. During the period of state mourning, the National Flag will be flown at Half mast on government buildings throughout the state where it is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment programmes during the period of mourning.
All state government offices and all revenue and magisterial courts and education institutions in Meghalaya will remain closed on July 31 as the government has accorded a state funeral of Roy.
Roy will be laid to rest at Jatap village in Shella assembly constituency bordering the Indo-Bangla border on July 31.
