From our correspondent
Itagar, Feb 23: Freedom fighter Damin Lollen (Hogmin), a tive of Aalo in West Siang district in Aruchal Pradesh has passed away at the age of 104 years.
He breathed his last at his Aalo residence at 8.30 am Thursday morning. He is survived by two sons, including the State Congress vice-president Minkir Lollen, and a daughter and scores of relatives.
Born in 1914, late Damin Lollen was the oldest Head Gaon Burah (HGB) of West Siang district. In 1922, he went to Sadiya for schooling, where he studied up to class III in Assamese medium and then involved in freedom struggle in 1926. He was arrested by the Britishers for five times. During 1942 Quit India Movement, he was arrested and imprisoned for two-months in jail at Dumduma (Assam).
He was one of the members who hoisted the Congress flag for the first time at Dipa (now in Lower Siang district) and also the tiol Flag on 15th August 1947 at Dipa. After Independence, he was appointed as political interpreter (PI) in 1950 at Misimi Hills which he also left in 1953. He was awarded a ‘certificate of merit’ by the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) for the meritorious and exemplary services rendered by him to NEFA administration during the Achingmori incident of 1953. In 1955, he was appointed as GB and till his last breath he was HGB of Kombo Tarsu village.
Meanwhile, the Aruchal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) expressed its deep sense of condolence on the demise of the freedom fighter and prayed to Almighty God for eterl peace of the departed soul and to bestow strength to the bereaved family members to bear the irreparable loss caused to them.