Dhanbad: Former Jharkhand minister, senior Congress functionary and former Dhanbad MLA Mannan Mallik passed away on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Ranchi, four days after being convicted in the high-profile 2011 Matkuria firing case.Chief minister Hemant Soren, including scores of political functionaries cutting across party lines, offered their condolences. Soren, along with other cabinet colleagues, also paid tribute to his mortal remains at the state assembly.On July 10, a Dhanbad court convicted Mallik and 29 others in connection with the Matkuria violence, holding them guilty of rioting, arson and obstructing govt officials from performing their duties. The court sentenced all 30 convicts to three years’ imprisonment but granted them bail immediately after the verdict pending further legal proceedings.The case dates back to April 27, 2011, when police and protesters clashed during an anti-encroachment drive at BCCL quarters in Matkuria under Bank More police station. As the situation spiralled out of control, police opened fire, leaving four dead. The incident triggered widespread political and social outrage across Jharkhand and remained one of Dhanbad’s most debated criminal cases.After nearly 15 years of trial, the court finally delivered its judgement. Mallik played a significant role in the protest at that time.Mallik was a veteran Congressman who served for years as the Dhanbad district president. He was elected as the Dhanbad MLA in the 2009 assembly elections on a Congress ticket and later served as a minister in the Hemant Soren-led govt. Known for his approachable nature and close connect with people, he remained a prominent political figure in the coal belt.He will be laid to rest with full state honours at Shamsher Nagar graveyard on Wednesday afternoon, sources said.
