The mortal remains of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans killed in a suicide attack in Pulwama on the Srinagar-Jammu highway on Thursday were laid to rest in their hometowns on Saturday.
The remains of G. Subramanian were brought to Savalaaperi at 4.20 p.m. by road from the Madurai airport and placed in front of his house to enable his family members and the public to pay their last respects.
The coffin was then taken to a farm belonging to Subramanian’s father Ganapathi, and the burial took place at 5.50 p.m.
Though the Indian Air Force flight carrying the mortal remains of Subramanian landed at Madurai airport at 2.30 p.m., the coffin reached Savalaaperi only at 4.20 p.m. as hundreds of youth from various parts of Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari and Thoothukudi came to pay their last respects to the martyr.
Local residents were in a state of shock over the death of Subramanian, who had left the village just six days ago.
Though the officials wanted to commence the funeral procession at the earliest, there was a short delay due to the crowds thronging the area and the rituals performed by the bereaved family.
Union Minister of State for Shipping Pon. Radhakrishnan, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, Ministers ‘Kadambur’ C. Raju and V.M. Rajalakshmi, Thoothukudi Collector Sandeep Nanduri and leaders of various political parties paid their respects to the slain jawan.
A compensation of ₹20 lakh announced by the State government on Friday was handed over to Subramanian’s wife Krishnaveni on completion of formalities.
In Karkudi, where the mortal remains of CRPF jawan C. Sivachandran, 33, were laid to rest with full State honours, there were heart-rending scenes. Grief-stricken relatives, friends and villagers gathered in large numbers to pay their last respects.
Kin inconsolable
Sivachandran’s wife Gandhimathi, 28, was inconsolable as a senior police officer handed over the National flag that was draped around her husband’s coffin after the funeral.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Saturday said a government job to one member of each of the families of the slain CRPF personnel would be provided.
