A pall of gloom descended on Betadur in Kundagol taluk of Dharwad district, the hometown of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad, after the news of the his death at Army’s R&R Hospital in Delhi on Thursday.
The family members, who had great hopes that Hanumanthappa would recover soon, were shocked to hear the news and were inconsolable. Their hopes relied on the fact that the person who had survived even after being buried under snow for six days, would definitely recover with the help of the advanced treatment being given to him. The positive message that they had received through other family members in New Delhi had further strengthened their belief.
Several political leaders, including former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, visited the small village located off State Highway No. 73 .
A little later, Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad Rajendra Cholan, and Superintendent of Police Dharmendrakumar Meena visited the village to oversee the preparations for the state funeral to be accorded to the martyr.
Mr. Cholan held discussions with the family members and the village elders on the funeral. The village elders wanted to take out a funeral procession of the mortal remains of Hanumanthappa in the village and also in Kundagol town, to which the Deputy Commissioner said that it probably would not be possible as they had to act according to the decisions taken by the army authorities.
He then informed presspersons that the mortal remains would be kept at the Government High School in Betadur for allowing the public to pay their last respects. Prior to that the body would be kept in Hubballi for the public to pay their last respects, he said adding that the place would be finalised a little later.
The details regarding the arrival of the body and the family members of Hanumanthappa Koppad were still awaited.
Meanwhile, a decision has been taken to conduct the funeral of Hanumanthappa Koppad at the land adjacent to the Gram Panchayat Office in Betadur.
