Bhubaneswar: Former BJP MLA from the Melchhamunda constituency in Bargarh district Mohammad Rafiq, passed away on Friday at the age of 71. He also served as the State president of the BJP Minority Morcha.
Rafiq had been undergoing treatment for diabetes-related ailments at a private hospital in Bargarh for some time. He breathed his last in the morning on Friday. From 2004 to 2009, he represented the then-Melchhamunda Assembly constituency as an MLA. Additionally, he held the position of vice-president of the Sohela Durga Puja Committee.
Known for his amicable demeanor and simple nature, Rafiq was widely loved among the general public. He was a bachelor. His passing has cast a pall of grief over the Sohela region.