Kangra youth killed in UAE in Nov cremated

Ashok Raina

Kangra, December 9

The last rites of 23-year-old Manoj Kumar of Bathra village in Jaswan Pragpur Assembly segment, who was allegedly murdered in Dubai in United Arab Emirates (UAE) a month ago, were performed at his native village today.

Industries Minister Bikram Thakur rushed from Dharamsala to attend his funeral. According to reports, Manoj, son of Jai Singh, up-pradhan of the Bathra panchayat, had gone to Sharjah Dubai eight months ago and was working with a taxi company there. Jai Singh said some unidentified people had attacked Manoj on November 10, leaving him injured to the point that his spine was fractured and kidney and liver, too, were damaged.

Manoj succumbed to injuries at a hospital after nine days of the attack. Jai Singh and Sunil Bhardwaj of Bhankandi, a social activist, had gone to Sharjah and it took them one month to bring back his body.

Manoj’s body reached Bathra on Sunday evening via Amritsar after SP Singh Oberia, chairman of a social organisation, helped the family.

Jai Singh said Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur, Industries Minister Bikram Singh Thakur and Nishant Sharma, a Hindu leader, supported the family in the hour of distress.