Dr Phlour W Khongjee, the former Sohra MLA, passed away on Sunday at Nazareth Hospital here. He was 62.
Dr Khongjee was survived by his wife and eight children. The funeral was held in his native Laitmawsing village, Sohra, today evening.
Khongjee was elected to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) in 2003 on a United Democratic Party ticket but he then later joined the Congress. He served as the KHADC Deputy Chairman between 2004 and 2005.
Later, still a member of the Congress, he was elected as MLA for Sohra in 2008 by defeating the former Chief Minister, FA Khonglam (also now deceased). However, he was defeated in 2013 and then again in 2018 (the last time as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate).
Dr Khongjee continued his medical practice at his clinic in Umsning, serving the community until he passed away.
Tributes have been paid to the former MLA from across the political spectrum.
“May God comfort the family with His peace and grant eternal rest unto him,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on social media.
KHADC CEM and present Sohra MDC Titosstarwell Chyne said, “I pray that his soul rest in eternal peace and may God give strength and comfort to this family especially his wife and children.”
Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh said that Dr Khongjee will “forever be remembered for his impassioned dedication to serve the people of his constituency and the state at large.”
Lyngdoh’s predecessor, AT Mondal, also described the deceased as “cordial, knowledgeable and warm”.
He was also remembered by East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh, who said, “This sudden demise of ‘Doc’ comes as a shock to me and his passing away leaves behind a sense of loss, not just for his family and near and dear ones, but to those he served, physically or politically.”
