Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) chief Subash Ghising, who gave birth to the agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state for Nepali-speaking people of the Darjeeling hills, passed away on Thursday night after battling prolonged illnesses.
A former soldier, Ghising formed the GNLF in 1980, demanding that a separate Gorkhaland state be carved out of North Bengal. The violent struggle ended when signed an agreement with the Centre and the state government for formation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), an autonomous governing body for the hills.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other Trinamool Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders have reportedly sent their condolences to his family.
According to reports, the 79-year-old breathed his last at the Sir Gangaram Hospital in the national capital after suffering from liver-related complications. His body is scheduled to be taken to Siliguri for the final rituals.