Thousands pay tribute to Army jawan Murali Naik in Chikkaballapur

Chikkaballapur: Thousands of people gathered near a mart on NH 44 on Saturday to pay their tribute to Army jawan M Murali Naik, who was martyred in Pakistan shelling at Poonch sector along the Line of Control on Thursday night.  

Murali Naik (23), a native of Kallikondlu village in Sri Sathya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh, had suffered fatal injuries in the heavy shelling by Pakistan Rangers.

The mortal remains of the fallen soldier were flown to the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. The jawan's body was then brought to his native village by road in the evening. After the residents learnt that the mortal remains of Naik were being taken to his native via Chikkaballapur, people in large numbers from the town and nearby villages, braving rains, gathered on the outskirts on NH 44 to pay tribute to the martyr. 

The vehicle carrying the mortal remains of Naik stopped briefly to allow the public to offer their final respects. They raised slogans chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', 'Murali Naik amar rahe'.

Naik, son of Sriramulu Naik and Jyothibai, had joined the Indian Army under the Agniveer scheme in December 2022. He was with the 851 Light Regiment and had visited his home last in January.