Bodies of 2 slain jawans reach city
Kolkata: The mortal remains of the two martyred CRPF personnel — Bablu Santra and Sudip Biswas arrived at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport on Saturday afternoon, four hours behind schedule after a special air force flight developed snag at Patna airport.
Encased in plywood coffins, draped in the national Tricolour, the mortal remains of the two CRPF personnel were brought out of the airport. A ceremonial honouring of the two martyrs was conducted inside a makeshift structure outside the airport.
A minute's silence was observed before the bodies were put in trucks for being driven to their homes for the last rites.
The martyred CRPF personnel were given guard of honour at the airport at around 3.30 pm soon after different wings of the armed forces, CRPF officials and Bidhannagar Police Commissioner laid wreaths amidst the sounding of bugles by a contingent of the paramilitary force.
The family members of the victims also reached the airport in the morning to take the mortal remains with them.
Santra was a head constable with the CRPF's 35 Battalion while Biswas was a constable with the 95 Battalion. They were among the 40 CRPF personnel who were martyred in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on February 14. Santra was from West Rajbangshipara village in Howrah district.
The other CRPF jawan, Sudip Biswas, hailed from Hanspukur village of Tehatta in Nadia.
As the news of the mortal remains of the two martyrs being brought to the city spread, a large number of people from the neighbouring areas started congregating outside the airport to have a glimpse. Hundreds of mourners who assembled outside the airport chanted slogans of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.
Many of them carried festoons and banners strongly condemning the incident. People were so outraged that they also shouted
anti-Pakistan slogans.
The mortal remains were taken to their villages in the evening for the last rites. People in large number gathered on both sides of the road in the two districts — Nadia and Howrah to show their last respect when the decorated coffins were being brought to their respective houses. It was learnt that the last rites of the martyrs would be performed at a local crematorium on late Saturday evening.
