Major K P Vinay was cremated here on Friday morning with full military honours. The body of Major Vinay who died while leading an assault on militants in Kashmir on Tuesday was brought here on Thursday and taken home at Rajendranagar in the outskirts.

In the face of criticism that the government ignored a martyr by failing to send any representative to receive the body two ministers Sabita Indrareddy and Chinna Reddy were deputed to be present at the funeral at the Amberpet electric crematorium. Thousands of people accompanied the body on its last journey, raising slogans like “Major Vinay Amar Rahe”.

On Thursday night when the body was flown in an Indian flight, VIPs were conspicuous by their absence. The martyr was virtually unsung as he was received by a handful persons including BJP MLA Kishan Reddy and former MLA B Bal Reddy. Accompanied by half a  dozen Army men and District Collector, Vinay’s body was moved to his father’s house in a military vehicle.

“Cricketers get hero’s welcome but a real hero  who laid down his life for the country, is ignored,” said a family member.