Capt aide Sekhon dies at 62

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 17

Karan Pal Sekhon, Political Secretary to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, passed away while on a holiday with his family in Egypt on Friday night. He was 62.

Official sources in the Chief Minister’s Office said Sekhon had suffered a heart attack. Efforts are being made to bring his mortal remains from Cairo (Egypt) to Chandigarh by Monday evening.

A third generation loyalist of the erstwhile Patiala royal family, Karan had been with Capt Amarinder since 1992.

He suffered the heart attack while on a cruise with his family and was immediately taken to a military hospital where he was declared brought dead.

He studied at Bishop Cotton School in Shimla and later at Government College, Chandigarh. He was OSD to Capt Amarinder during his first term as Chief Minister. Karan originally belonged to Kal Banjara village in Sangrur district. His grandfather Ishar Singh was a nazim in the Patiala State.

His father was in the IIIrd Regiment of the Patiala State and was absorbed in the Army after Independence. Karan had also served for about seven years in a corporate house in Delhi.

Captain Amarinder has expressed shock and grief at the death of Sekhon. He described the death as "a huge personal loss". Capt Amarinder said he would deeply miss Sekhon's strength and tireless service to him and the Congress in Punjab. Health Minister Brahm Mohindra has also condoled Sekhon's demise.