Thousands of people on Saturday bade a tearful adieu to the two CRPF troopers from Uttarakhand who were killed in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir as their remains were consigned to flames.
Heart-rendering scenes were witnessed after senior Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers handed over the remains of Mohan Lal Raturi, resident of Kargi Chowk area here, and Virendra Rana from Kumaon's Khatima area to their families.
Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and several political leaders arrived at Raturi's house but the family members remained inconsolable.
Rawat also carried Raturi's coffin to the cremation ground. His last rites were performed at the holy banks of Ganga in Haridwar with full state honours.
Similar scenes were witnessed at Khatima where Rana's little son showered petals and lit the pyre. Union Minister of State for Textiles Ajay Tamta, State Transport Minister Yashpal Arya and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Pushkar Singh Dhami were present at the cremation ground.
Meanwhile, several shops and business establishments across the state downed their shutters as a mark of respect for those killed. However, essential services were not affected.
The Chief Minister had announced Rs 25 lakh each for the family of both the troopers.
--IANS
str/mag/ab
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