Martyred CRPF jawan laid to rest with state honours

H S Chandra, a CRPF soldier, who was martyred in the mine blast triggered by the Maoists at Sukma district in Chhattisgarh, was laid to rest with full state honours at his native Haraduru, on Thursday.

The body, which reached the village at 3 pm, was kept at the samudaya bhavan to enable the people pay their last respects. Later, the final rites were performed at his farm in the village.

The Army and the police personnel accorded the martyr 21-gun salutes. District-in-charge Minister A Manju, Deputy Commissioner Rohini Sindhuri and others attended the funeral.

Villagers protest

Earlier, the villagers of Haraduru staged a protest at the Hassan Institute of Medical Science, alleging that the district administration has shown disrespect to the martyred jawan by not keeping the mortal remains of the jawan for public viewing at the deputy commissioner's office in Hassan.

They also raised slogans against the District-in-charge Minister Manju and the officials. The district administration, however, got into the action mode making arrangements to keep the mortal remains of H S Chandra, near the DC's office for half-an-hour. Elected representatives, officials and students paid their last respects.

DC Rohini Sindhuri clarified that, as per the request of the parents, arrangements were made to keep the body for public viewing in Hassan. The final rites were performed with government honours, she said.