By Anshul Tewari:
The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed today that Dorjee Khandu has been killed in a chopper crash, according to a report in The Times Of India. On 30 April 2011 the helicopter carrying Khandu and four other people on a trip from Tawang to Itanagar disappeared. Dorjee Khandu was serving as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
Who was Dorjee Khandu? [source]
A man of steel, Dorjee served in the Indian Army Intelligence Corps for more than seven years and had been awarded a gold medal for his meritorious intelligence services rendered during Bangladesh War. Later, he was engaged in social activities for village people of Tawang District and looked after their welfare up till 1980. In 1980, he was selected uncontested as the First ASM and worked in same capacity till 1983.
- 1982: Chairman, Culture and Co-operative Societies in those years; Due to enthusiastic efforts, cultural and co-operative societies established in Tawang and lead the cultural troupe representing Arunachal Pradesh in Delhi for ASIAD in 1982 and won silver medal for good performance;
- 1983—87: Elected uncontested as District Vice President, West Kameng District Zilla Parishad 1983—87;
- 1987—1990: Engaged in intensive social works and brought water supply, electricity, communication, schools religious institutions etc., to far flung villagers from 1987 to 1990;
- In March, 1990 he was elected uncontested to the First Legislative Assembly of the State of Arunachal Pradesh from Thingbu-Mukto constituency. In March 1995 he was re-elected to Second Legislative Assembly of the State of Arunachal Pradesh from the same constituency. He became the Minister of State for Cooperation from 21 March 1995. On 21 September 1996, he became the Cabinet Minister for Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Dairy Development.
- 1998: Minister, Power from 2006—1998
In October 1999 he was elected to third Legislative Assembly of the State of Arunachal Pradesh. He was the Minister for Mines, Relief & Rehabilitation from 15 October 2002 to 27 July 2003. On 28 July 2003, he became the Minister for Relief & Rehabilitation and Disaster Management. In 2004, he was re-elected unopposed from Mukto constituency in the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections and became the minister for Power, NCER, and relief and rehabilitation.
India has lost an eminent leader of the North-East.