Matua Matriarch Binapani Devi's Last Rites To Be Held Today

The last rites of Matua community matriarch Binapani Devi, popularly known as ''Boro Ma'', will be held today at Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district, where her body would shortly arrive from Kolkata.

The centurian passed away at the capital's state-run hospital on Tuesday evening after prolonged illness. She is survived by her younger son Manjul Krishna Thakur.

The body was taken in a flower-bedecked hearse from S S K M Hospital in presence of West Bengal minister Jyotipriyo Mallick and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Bala Thakur, a family member of Boro Ma.

"We started with her body at around 8 a.m. and reached Thakurnagar at 11 a.m. Lakhs of followers have gathered here to see their beloved Boroma for the last time," a family member said.

Thakurnagar is the headquarters of the Matua Mahasangh, an organisation of the community.

Many members belonging to the scheduled caste community visited the hospital throughout the night to pay their last respects to Binapani Devi, who breathed her last at 8.52 pm, after being on ventilator support at the hospital since Sunday.

Her body is expected to reach Thakurnagar by 11 am, as thousands of followers await to catch a last glimpse of their beloved Boro Ma.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Tuesday condoled the death of Binapani Devi, considered a significant political force in the state.

PM Modi had met Boro Ma last month during his visit to Thakurnagar.

Ms Banerjee has announced that Boro Ma will be accorded a state-funeral with gun salute.

The Matuas originally hail from erstwhile East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, and began migrating to West Bengal at the beginning of the 1950s, mostly due to religious persecution.

With an estimated population of 30 lakh in the state, Matuas can influence results in at least five Lok Sabha seats in North and South 24 Parganas districts.