Jagatsinghpur/Cuttack: Amid teary eyes and emotional scenes, the two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) bravehearts from Odisha, killed in the Pulwama terror attack, were on Saturday consigned to flames with full State honours. The last rites of the two jawans- Manoj Kumar Behera and Prasanna Kumar Sahu were performed at their respective villages at Ratnapur in Cuttack and Shikhar village in Jagatsinghpur districts respectively as thousands bid tearful adieu.
Soon after the mortal remains of Behera reached his native village Ratanpur in Niali, thousands of people paid their last tributes to the slain CRPF personnel. Union Minister Jual Oram and Odisha Minister Pratap Jena also visited Behera’s native village to pay their tributes. Moreover, the district administration also handed over a cheque of Rs 25 lakh to the family members of the martyred jawan as ex-gratia which was earlier announced by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
A gun salute was accorded to the martyred jawan at the village crematorium, following which the mortal remains were consigned to flames. Behera’s younger brother lit the funeral pyre in presence of Union Minister Jual Oram and Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Pratap Jena.
Similarly, mortal remains of Sahu were consigned to flames at his native Shikhar village late on Saturday. People in large numbers gathered on roadside to pay their last respects to the braveheart. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Odisha Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera were also present during the last rites.
The IPS Association of Odisha yesterday condemned the Pulwama terrorist attack. The association members have decided to contribute one day's salary for supporting the bereaved families of the CRPF personnel who were martyred in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on Thursday.
The association will contribute to the welfare fund of Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for supporting the bereaved families, said a statement.
"The IPS Association, Odisha condemns the terror attack on CRPF personnel on 14th February 2019 at Pulwama, Kashmir. While expressing deep sorrow and anguish, the Association stands firmly in solidarity with the CRPF and is sure that resolute action will be taken against the perpetrators of this heinous crime," the statement read.