AMN / DHANBAD
Former Lok Sabha MP and founder of Marxist Coordination Committee (MCC) A K Roy died on Sunday at a hospital following multiple organ failure. He was 90.

The three-time MP from Dhanbad, along with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Sibu Soren and former parliamentarian Binod Bihari Mahto, had spearheaded the movement for a separate state in 1971. Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar on November 15, 2000.

Roy has also been a three-time member of legislative assembly from Sindri constituency. An engineer by profession, Roy had started his political career with Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPI-M), and on its symbol he became MLA for the first time from Sindri.

However, when he wrote an article in favour of a separate Jharkhand state in an English daily, which CPIM did not like and asked him to give a clarification, following which Roy left the party and founded the JMM. Later he also founded the Marxist Coordination Committee (MCC).

Condoling the death of the former Lok Sabha member, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Sunday accorded him a state funeral. Das said that Roy’s “demise has left a deep void” in Jharkhand.

The three-time MP from Dhanbad, along with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Sibu Soren and former parliamentarian Binod Bihari Mahto, had spearheaded the movement for a separate state in 1971. Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar on November 15, 2000.