KATHMANDU: Several hundreds of participants on Sunday congregated at Khula Manch to pay their last respects to Bishnu Lal Maharjan - a Jana Aandolan II victim - who is proclaimed as 'living martyr'.

They paid floral tribute to Maharjan and praised the role he played during the April 2006 movement to abolish the monarchy.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal covered the martyr's body with the national flag and said, "We are devastated by the sad demise of one of the great veterans of the historic people's movement. I would like to express a heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family on behalf of the government and myself."

"The nonstop 800-day long effort to give him a new lease of life failed," the Prime Minister said, adding that the government would find a suitable job for Maharjan's widow and make special arrangement for their three kids.

The PM reiterated that the government would formally announce Maharjan a national martyr. Chairman of the Constituent Assembly Subash Chandra Nembang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sujata Koirala, Chairman of the Unified CPN-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', President of CPN- UML Jhalanath Khanal, ministers and leaders of various political parties also paid their last respects.

Laxmi, widow of Maharjan and their three kids were sobbing bitterly during the funeral procession, which began at Khula Manch, at midday and passed through Tripureshwor and Kalanki before the body was laid on the funeral pyre at Bishnudevi Ghat for the last rites, which were performed as per the Newari tradition. Bikesh (9), Maharjan's eldest son, lit the funeral pyre. Some mourners broke down in tears. His body was on display from 8 am to 12 noon for the public to pay last respects.