Anguish engulfs kin of slain jawan at Nerchowk

Dipender Manta

Tribune news service

Mandi, April 25

Surender Thakur (33), head constable, CRPF, native of Nerchowk, was among those who were killed in the Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh yesterday. His body was brought to his native place near Nerchowk and his last rites were performed with state honours. CRPF personnel and the Himachal Police gave salute to the martyr.

The family of the martyr was inconsolable. He is survived by his wife, three year-old daughter, elder brother and mother. Pall of gloom descended on the district after the news reached his native place last evening. According to the family, after the news broken out yesterday, they tried to contact him on the phone which was picked by someone who told them that he was killed in the ambush.

Surender joined the CRPF in 2003 and had served Jammu and Srinagar for six years.

He had been posted in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh for the past three years. It was only nine days back when Surender was at home on leave and had taken his wife and daughter on a trip to Golden Temple in Amritsar and the Wagah border.

He studied at Nerchowk and get higher education from Maharaja Lakshman Sen Memorial (MLSM) College, Nerchowk, in Mandi. Mandi MP Ramswaroop Sharma, Excise and Taxation Minister Prakash Chaudhari, Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kadam and Superintendent of Police Prem Kumar Thakur were present at the funeral ceremony of the martyr. His daughter performed the last rites.