DHANBAD, July 15 -- Veteran Congress leader, former minister and a prominent trade unionist Mannan Mallik passed away at a private hospital in Ranchi on Tuesday after a prolonged illness at the age of 83.

Mallik was under judicial custody at the time of his death following his recent conviction in the Mat Kuria firing case. A local court had last week sentenced him, his son and several others to three years' imprisonment. According to his counsel, Abhay Kumar Bhatt, Mallik was unable to file a bail petition as he had been undergoing treatment in the Ranchi hospital.

His death triggered widespread grief across Jharkhand, especially in the coal belt of Dhanbad, where he was known for his long political career and unwavering commitment to ...