Legendary freedom fighter, Sushil Dhara, who died at the age of 101, was today cremated at Peerless Bhavan here with State honours as hundreds of people paid their last respects.
Mr. Dhara, a Gandhian, who along with others had liberated Tamluk (then Tamraplipta) in East Midnapur district from British rule in 1942, passed away here yesterday.
Mr. Dhara’s mortal remains was taken out in a procession from his native house at Tikarampur village at around 10 am to Tamluk Smriti Saudha, built in memory of the martyrs of the freedom struggle. The cortege was taken to Tajpur High School, which Mr. Dhara established, where students paid their last respects.
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The procession then moved to Gandhi Bhavan, Mahsisadal, an ashram which Gandhiji had visited.
Later the mortal remains was taken to Peerless Bhavan, the martyr’s residence, where the last rites were performed amidst gun salute.
People from all walks of life congregated at the venue to have a last look at the freedom fighter, who had been honoured by President Pratibha Patil on his 100th birthday last year.
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Among those who paid their last respects were Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, West Bengal Minister for Fisheries Kiranmoy Nanda, West Bengal Pradesh Congress chief Manas Bhuniya and Trinamool Congress MP from Tamluk, Sisir Adhikari.