Joseph Topno laid to rest

From a Correspondent

DHEKIAJULI, March 24: The mortal remains of Joseph Topno, former Tezpur MP, former  Dhekiajuli MLA , Tea Cell and  AGP leader, were  laid to rest on Thursday  at 12.22pm in presence of hundreds of his supporters at the Dhekiajuli Catholic Church cremation ground.

In the funeral, different political leaders, Christian Missiories and local organization leaders were present. Deputy Speaker Bhimanda Tanti, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee spoksperson Apurba Bhattacharjee, Sonitpur District AGP president Ratul th, Tezpur Catholic Church Chief Akaseuse Topno, Joseph Topno’s brother Hipallutush Topno,  local MLA Habul Chakraborty, a delegate of 30 missiories from Upper Assam  and large number of dignitaries from different organizations were present in the funeral rituals. In honour of Topno, Dhekiajuli bandh was observed from 6 am to 6 pm on Thursday.  The former Tezpur MP, Dhekiajuli MLA and Tea Cell leader Joseph Topno died on Tuesday in a city hospital due to high blood pressure. In 1985 he contested from Dhekiajuli constituency as an AGP candidate but lost the election to Hiranya Borah. In 1996 he defeated Congress candidate Hiranya Borah and became the first non-Congress MLA from Dhekiajuli constituency.  In 2001 assembly election Topno once again won from Dhekiajuli  constituency as an AGP candidate. In 2009 general election Joseph Topno won from Tezpur Lok Sobha Seat as a lone AGP MP. Meanwhile, AGP has declared three- day mourning as a mark of respect to their leader. Different political parties and organization mourned the death of Joseph Topno.