Cuttack, Jan 22: Veteran journalist Arun Kumar Panda passed away at his residence here in Odisha on Monday. He was 76.

Panda breathed his last at his residence in CDA area of Cuttack city in the evening, family sources said.

Panda started his journalism career in 'The Samaja', a premier Odia daily newspaper. He was active as a columnist after he retired from the newspaper. Apart from journalism, Panda was associated with many socio-cultural institutions contributing immensely as a social activist.

Apart from journalism, Panda was associated with many socio-cultural institutions. He was an active member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Odisha Go Rakshya Abhiyan, Swadeshi Movement, among other social reformations.

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A pall of gloom descended on the journalists’ fraternities in the State following the death of the veteran journalist.