Lulu consigned to flames at native village

Bhubaneswar: The mortal remains of senior Congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra were consigned to flames on Tuesday at his ancestral village in Gada Rodanga in Puri district.

Leaders across parties and his followers in thousands including surrounding villages of Gada Rodanga attended the funeral of Mohapatra.

Cries of ‘Lulu bhai amar rahe' (Long live Lulu Bhai) filled the air before the funeral pyre was lit.

Earlier in the day, his cortege which was taken out from his residence here to the State Assembly, drew sea of mourners.
Congress leaders including Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief Prasad Harichandan, Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra, Tara Prasdad Bahnipati, Niranjan Patnaik, party’s spokesperson Sulochana Das attended the procession. Chief minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik paid floral tributes to the departed soul.

He was given full state honours at the State Assembly to which he was elected for three consecutive terms.

As the vehicle carrying Lulu’s body was moving towards Gada Rodanga for the last rites, thousands of his supporters were seen standing both side of the road to pay last respects to the departed young leader. A pall of gloom descended at his ancestral village as the body reached.