Saturday, December 25 2004 09:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Veteran Marxist leader and former Tripura Chief Minister Nripen Chakraborty died in Kolkata this morning (Dec 25, 2004) following a cardiac arrest at the State-run S S K M hospital, hospital sources said.

The end came at 4:20 hrs (IST).

Attending doctor Prof S Paul of the Respiratory Care Unit of SSKM said that the 101-yr old Chakraborty was suffering from multiple diseases of the pancreas, heart and neurological ones, among others.

His condition turned critical after he had developed Septeceamia following a gall bladder infection.

Chakraborty, a former CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) politburo member and one of the founders of the Communist movement in Tripura, had been flown to Kolkata from Agartala on December 23 for treatment.

A man of spartan habits, he was a bachelor.

Incidentally, CPM Politburo had restored his membership to the party on December 23, nine years after he was expelled in April 1995 for alleged breach of party discipline.

He also became CPM's central committee member in 1972 and politburo member in 1984.

Party sources said his body would be taken to Agartala by air where a State funeral would be given.