BHUBANESWAR: Swarupananda Patra, president of Odisha Minority Forum (OMF), passed away here on Sunday. A former scientist in the Indian Space Research Organisation, he was Director of Doordarshan, Government of India and Director of State Institute of Educational Technology, Government of Odisha. Patra was in the Odisha Jana Morcha (OJM) before joining the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
He took voluntary retirement from government service to take up the cause and work for the rights of the minorities.
Describing him as a person who worked for the people, former president of OPCC Niranjan Patnaik condoled his death. OJM president Pyarimohan Mohapatra said the death of Patra is not only a loss for the Christian community, but for the entire State.