Stephen Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (MS)
Kasargod, Oct 24: Mortal remains of soldier Ashwin, native of Chervathoor of the district, who died in the army helicopter crash at Arunachal Pradesh, was brought to his home and final rites were held with state and military honours.
The mortal remains were brought to Kannur by flight and later to Chervathoor. Military officers accompanied the coffin. The mortal remains were kept at Kiyakkamuriya library campus for public view. Thousands of civilians paid their last respect to the departed soldier.
Port minister Ahmed Devar Kovil paid respects to the soldier on behalf of the state government of Kerala. District collector Bhandary Swagath laid wreath on the coffin of the late soldier on behalf of the chief minister of the state.
MP Rajmohan Unnitthan, MLAs E Chandrashekharan, C H Kunhambu, T I Madhusudhanan, zilla panchayat president P Baby Balakrishnan, Nileshwar block panchayat president Madhavan Maniyara, former MP P Karunakaran, P K Srimathi, former MLA Mariah K Kunhiraman, K P Satish Chandran, T V Rajesh, K P Kunhikannan, former zilla panchayat president M V Balakrishnan, Chervathur village panchayat president C V Pramila, SP Vaibhav Saxena, DySP P Balakrishnan Nair, tahsildar N Maniraj, Kinaanoor Karindala military association, leaders of various political parties, military and police officers, youths and leaders of voluntary organizations paid their last respect to the soldier.
After paying last respects, mortal remains of late soldier Ashwin were brought to his home. After the military honours and procedures of final respect, the process of final rites began near the home. Military officers handed over national flag and uniform of the late soldier to his parents Ashok and Kausalya.
The soldiers conducted the final rites under the leadership of DSC station commandant Col Lokendra Singh. The final rites were held with military honours. Six soldiers under the leadership of Capt Yuvaraj, of AEN Corps of Indian Army to which late Ashwin belonged, accompanied the mortal remains.