Lt Colonel Niranjan's body brought to home town

A pall of gloom descended when the mortal remains of Lieutenant Colonel E K Niranjan, who was killed while on duty in the terror-hit Pathankot IAF base, were brought here this evening.
The body was brought here from Bengaluru in a special helicopter enroute to the officer's ancestral village Elambulassery, located about 25 km from here, where the last rites will be performed tomorrow.
32-year-old Niranjan, head of the elite bomb squad of the NSG, was killed while defusing an IED at Pathankot IAF base, yesterday. He was among seven security personnel killed in the terrorist attack.
District administration officials and MLAs, including A K Balan, K Achuthan and M Hamsa, were among the large number of people present when the body was brought to the Government Victoria College Ground here.

Besides army and air force officials, Niranjan's father E K Sivarajan and wife Dr Radhika also accompanied the body of the departed officer.
It will be kept at his ancestral home at Elambulassery in Mannarkkad taluk till tomorrow morning.

The last rites will be performed by 11.30 AM after keeping the mortal remains at KUP School there for public to pay homage.
Expressing sorrow over the death of the officer, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said he shared the family's grief.
Niranjan, whose family resides in Bengaluru, was commissioned in the Engineers Regiment of the Army in 2004.
He is survived by his wife and an 18-month-old daughter.