Rourkela: Well known Communist leader of Odisha Gananath Patra passed away at his residence in a slum in Abinashpalli of Rourkela on Saturday. He was 84.
Patra had played a major role in the agitation of farmers in Srikakulam of Andhra Pradesh, against missile test base at Baliapal in Balasore district and industrialization. He also spearheaded Chasi Mulia Adivasi agitation in Narayanpatna in Koraput district.
For his involvement in the Chasi Mulia Adivasi agitation, he was sentenced to a 30-month jail term. During his jail term, his health deteriorated as he was suffering from acute diabetes with vision and cardiac ailments.
After his release from Choudwar circle jail on June 12, 2012, he was staying with his wife who is a school teacher.
The additional district sessions court of Koraput, while granting bail to Patra, had asked him not to participate in any agitation of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) and make any utterances against the government.
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