Slain army officer cremated with full military honours

The mortal remains of martyr Major Akshay Girish Kumar, killed during the terror strike on Nagrota Army camp in Jammu, were cremated with full military honours here today.

The body of 31-year old Kumar was brought from New Delhi in an IAF aircraft and kept at the Yelahanka Air Force station where the Army and IAF officials and dignitaries paid their last respects to the martyr.

Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra and Bengaluru Mayor Padmvathi laid wreaths on the body of Kumar, who was part of the Quick Reponse Team that swung into action soon after the terror strike on Tuesday.

Jayachandra announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 25 lakh to the family of Kumar, who was among the seven armymen, including two officers, killed in the terror attack.

 In a sombre atmosphere, Kumar's friends, relatives and mourners from the nearby areas paid homage as his body was kept for public viewing at his residence here.

 Kumar's father Girish Kumar retired as a Wing Commander and is now serving as a pilot with a private airline.Kumar is survived by wife Sangeetha and two and a half year old daughter Naina.