Thousands of people bid tearful adieu to martyred jawans

Thousands of people, including Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Pon Radhakrishnan, Saturday paid tributes to the two CRPF jawans killed in the Pulwama terror attack as the duo were laid to rest at their native villages in Tamil Nadu with full State honours.

The bodies of G Subramanian and C Sivachandran, the two CPRF personnel killed in the attack, were flown to Madurai and Tiruchirappalli airports respectively from New Delhi and later taken to their villages by road.

Draped with the tricolour, the coffins containing the mortal remains were taken in flower-bedecked trucks with black flags hoisted on both sides of the vehicle.

Heartrending scenes were witnessed at Karkudi village in Ariyalur district when Sivachandran's two-year-old son, wearing an 'Army uniform', kissed the coffin containing his father's body and paid tributes to the martyr.

His pregnant wife Kanthimathi was inconsolable when the gun salute was offered and the casket lowered in the burial pit.

Similar scenes were witnessed at Savalaperi village in Tuticorin district when Subramanian's body was interred in his agricultural fields.

His wife Krishnaveni and bereaved family members could not come to terms with the reality of losing their loved one.

Subramanian had got married only in November 2017.

People lined up on both sides of the roads and showered flowers as a mark of respect when the vehicles carrying the coffins headed towards the martyrs' villages.

Several of those who had gathered could be seen waving the national flag out of reverence for the slain soldiers.

After the families performed the last rites, the martyrs were laid to rest amid State honours and the national flag wrapped around the coffins was given to the bereaved kin.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami, in an official release here, said he has ordered government jobs for one person each from the two CRPF soldiers' families.

Palaniswami had on Friday announced a solatium of Rs 20 lakh each to the families.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of State for Shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan received the mortal remains at Tiruchirappalli and Madurai airports respectively and paid floral tributes.

Later, Sitharaman and Radhakrishnan visited Karkudi and Savalaperi respectively and paid their last respects.

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Information Minister Kadambur Raju paid their last respects at Savalaperi.

Tourism Minister Vellamandi N Natarjan, top district and police officials, representatives of political parties were among those who paid homage.