CRPF men angry as no politician turns up to honour martyrs

Anger among paramilitary CRPF jawans was evident today as no political leader showed up at the wreath laying ceremony of their colleagues who were killed in a militant attack in Anantnag district.

As officers and jawans of the CRPF and state police bid a tearful adieu to the two men slain yesterday, rage overtook grief as some personnel from the paramilitary force hit out at the politicians for their absence at the event.

"We lay our life for the country, but there is no value. No politician turned up for the ceremony," a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan said on the condition of anonymity.
He said someone from the government should have represented the state to pay homage to the deceased.

"They died for the country, for the security of the people. Someone (politician) should have been here," he added.

However, Inspector General of Police, CRPF, Atul Karwal, defied such sentiments saying that the presence of the politicians was "not material".

"I feel we have the support of the political hierarchy. The presence is not material as much as is the support we need and we feel we have that. DGP (state police K Rajendra Kumar) is here," he said.