Gangtok, Aug. 1: The body of the first chief minister of Sikkim, Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsharpa (popularly known as L.D. Kazi), was brought to the state today from his residence in Kalimpong where he died on Saturday night. He was 103 years old.

Senior ministers and officials received the body at the border town of Rangpo, about 37km from Kalimpong. The body was draped in the Tricolour and given a guard of honour by Sikkim police.

Traders at Rangpo downed shutters for an hour to pay their respects to the leader, who played an instrumental role in Sikkim’s merger with India.

The body was then taken to the old Rumtek monastery, 25km from Rangpo, to enable people to pay their homage. The late leader was the head lama of the monastery before joining politics.

The funeral will be held at Rumtek on Friday with a 21-gun salute. All government establishments and educational institutions in the state will remain closed on the day. The state cabinet has decided to install Kazi’s statue in front of Chintan Bhawan here.