A pall of gloom descended in Sankonatti of Athani taluk as the news of the death of Cfn. (VM) Bharateshwar (31) of the Indian Army reached the village on Friday. He was among the 18 soldiers killed in an ambush triggered by militants in Chandel district of Manipur on Thursday.
Bharateshwar, son of Rayappaa and Godavari Padanad, belonged to an economically-backward family. He had joined the Indian Army in 2006 and served for nine years. He was among the military convoy consisting of 29 personnel, which was ambushed by the militants, killing 18 and leaving 11 injured. The martyr is survived by his parents, wife Sangeeta and two children, Chiranjeevi and Hrutik, both less than five years old.
Athani taluk administration said there was no adequate information on when the body would be delivered to the family of the martyr to enable them to perform the last rites. However, the body could be expected on Sunday and the last rites would be performed with due honours to the martyr, official sources said here on Saturday.
