Veteran freedom fighter and member of the first Odisha Legislative Assembly, Baishnab Charan Patnaik, passed away here on Tuesday.
He was 98 and is survived by two sons and as many daughters. He breathed his last at his residence after being bed-ridden for five years. Thousands of people thronged outside his Chandan bazaar home in Dhenkanal town to pay homage.
He was a leader of Praja Andolan movement in 1938. He spearheaded the movement in Bhuban, Nilakhanthapur, Kadarsingha and Alasuahaat. He mobilised thousands of volunteers under his strong leadership.
Patnaik was elected to the first Assembly between 1952 and 1957 and represented the third Lok Sabha from 1962 to 1967 as a Congress candidate from Dhenkanal constituency.
He was imprisoned several times during freedom struggle and injured after being shot at while leading a movement for capture of Parjang police station during Quit India Movement.
His mortal remains were taken in a procession across the town before cremation.