PONDA, Feb. 16 -- Team Herald

Thousands bid a tearful farewell to former Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar, who was cremated in local crematorium at Durgabhat, Ponda on Sunday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, people from all walks of life including ministers and MLAs cutting across party lines and friends made a beeline at Mamledar's residence to pay rich tributes to the departed former

legislator.

It may be recalled that the former Ponda MLA died shortly after an altercation with an auto driver, 28-year-old Mujaheed Shakeel Jamadar in Karnataka's Belagavi district on Saturday. Jamadar was later arrested.

An emotional Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said, "I have lost my childhood friend. Despite political differences, our friendship was intact...