JOIN USThousands bade a tearful adieu to H Guru (33), the CRPF constable from Mandya who was killed in the Pulwama terrorist attack on Thursday. His mortal remains were laid to rest on Saturday night with government honours on a 10-gunta land identified by the district administration at Mellahalli, on the Maddur-Malavalli Road.
Mellahalli is near Guru’s native place, Gudigere Colony, near KM Doddi, in Maddur taluk.
The jawan’s body arrived in the village at 7.45 pm, but the coffin was kept closed as the body was torn into pieces. The family members offered puja to the closed coffin box.
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy handed over the tricolour covering the coffin to Guru’s wife Kalavathy. He also presented a cheque of Rs 25 lakh as compensation.
The residents of Gudigere Colony gathered in large numbers to bid farewell to the brave son of the village. The cries of family members, relatives, neighbours and friends rent the air as the body arrived. People lined up on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway and also on the Maddur-Malavalli Road to pay last respects, as the body reached Nidagatta, on the Maddur-Channapatna border.
The residents were joined by people from surrounding villages, Maddur taluk and Mandya district. Those from neighbouring districts and from Bengaluru visited paid tributes.
Seer of Madiwala Gurupeetha Basava Machideva Swami from Chitradurga, seer of Bhovi Gurupeetha Immadi Siddarameshwara Swami from Bagalkot, seers Basava Haralaiah Swami and Shivalinga Shivacharya Swami conducted the rituals and recited the Vachanas of Basavanna.
The last rites were held as per Madiwala customs and traditions. Guru’s younger brothers Anand and Madhu lit the pyre. CRPF personnel and KSRP personnel fired three rounds in the air as a mark of respect.
In KM Doddi, an educational hub, traders observed a bandh to pay their respects. A bandh was observed in KT Street, a commercial hub, in Mysuru city. As there was a delay in the body arriving in the village, people staged a road block on Maddur-Malavalli Road for some time.
Besides, several demonstrations were held across the region in Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar districts demanding action against terrorists and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, actor Sumalatha, wife of the late actor-politician Ambarish, who served as MLA and MP from Mandya district, offered to donate a piece of land to build a memorial for Guru.