JOIN USLife will not be the same for the family members of Krishnayya Mogaveera killed by French soldiers mistaking him for rebels in the Central African Republic.
A sense of gloom, loss and mourning pervades Balamma Nilaya, his home here. The tragic death of their youngest son is yet to sink in for the grieving parents Balu, 59, and Narayana Mogaveera, 72.
According to his elder brother Anand Mogaveera, supervisor at a nearby tiles factory, Krishnaiah had worked as an accountant for the last six to seven years in a pharmaceutical company in Banqui in the Central African Republic. He had last visited Balkur along with his wife Sumana and son Aditya in November following insurgency in the African country. However, he decided to go back to Banqui.
“He had last spoken to us on Saturday and did not give any clue about his return nor about the problems there. He spoke to all of us. He couldn’t contact us before the tragedy because all his belongings, including his cell phone, were confiscated by the Army. He was just 37.
“We came to know about the incident through our elder brother Shekhar in Mumbai on Monday at 3 pm. Information about the tragedy was given by our paternal cousin. My parents came to know about it only later, as we did not tell them immediately that Krishnaiah had been killed. Now, they are under shock and our mother is bedridden,” said Anand.
After obtaining a degree in commerce from Sharada College, Krishnaiah, who had studied in the government primary and high school at Balkur, did his computer training in Kundapur. He married Sumana from Saligrama four and half years ago and their son Aditya is aged three and half years. Krishnaiah’s elder sister Jayanti is settled in the US.
Sumana and Aditya are expected to arrive in Balkur from Mumbai on Thursday. “We do not know when Krishnaiah’s body will arrive. Our brother Shekhar is in touch with the Indian embassy. I blame the French soldiers for the tragedy. They have snatched away all our happiness,” said Anand.
Krishnaiah’s maternal aunt (wife of mother’s brother) Parvathi said, “I have lost my son. As I had no male children, Krishnaiah and his brothers filled the gap. Krishnaiah was blessed with all good qualities.
“He, along with his bothers, built a house for us as we were poor and could not afford it. He would also help us in agricultural activities when he was young. We are waiting to get his last glimpse,” she said. The last rites will be performed in Balkur.