Grief, anger mark cremation of CRPF men Investigators rule out possibility of suicide bomber using an SUV
Last rites performed with state honours in Uttarakhand; leaders, locals pay last respects amid call for action
DEHRADUN/KHATIMA/HARIDWAR: The bodies of two CRPF jawans from Uttarakhand, who were killed in terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, reached their homes in Dehradun and Udham Singh (US) Nagar respectively on Saturday. The jawan who used to live in Dehradun was cremated in Haridwear while the other was cremated in his native place in Khatima town of US Nagar.
Chief minister (CM) Trivendra Singh Rawat along with government and CRPF officials paid their homage to the slain jawans at their places in the presence of a large number of locals who gathered there to pay their tributes.
The two jawans were among the 40 CRPF personnel killed in February 14 attacks. Mohan Lal Raturi, 55, was a resident of Uttarkashi district and Virendra Singh, 35, of Uddham Singh (US) Nagar district.
Raturi’s family is presently living in Dehradun where his body was brought by CRPF personnel around 7.15 am on Saturday. His family is staying in a rented accommodation in MDDA Colony in Dalanwala locality. But Raturi’s body was brought to his elder brother’s residence in Vidya Vihar area, as his family members had reached there on Friday.
Rawat reached there around 9am to pay his last respects; locals raised slogans of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Pakistan Murdabad’. Legislators Ganesh Joshi and Vinod Chamoli, among other leaders and officials, also paid their tributes to the fallen jawan.
From there, Raturi’s body was taken to Haridwar by family members for last rites. He was cremated with full state honours at Khadkhadi ghat on the banks of Ganga around 12.30 pm, amid chanting of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Shaheed Mohan Lal Amar Rahe’.
Uttarakhand assembly speaker Prem Chand Aggarwal, cabinet ministers Satpal Maharaj and Madan Kaushik, parliamentarian Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and officials were present during the cremation.
Raturi is survived by his wife and five children, including three daughters and two sons. His elder daughter is married. His younger daughter completed her graduation a few months ago while the youngest one is in Class 12. Among his two sons, the elder one works as a yoga instructor in Rishikesh, while the younger is a Class 9 student.
Raturi’s wife and daughters, who were present at his brother’s house, were inconsolable and many neighbours were trying to hold back their tears.
“I want my husband back. Give my husband back. Who will take care of my children?” cried his wife Sarita Devi who was consoled by other family members and neighbours.
Virendra Singh’s body reached his native village of Mohammadpur Bhuria in Khatima town of US Nagar district around 8.30 am. As soon as his body reached the village, locals raised the slogan ‘Jab Tak Sooraj Chand Rahega, Virendra Tera Naam Rahega.’
Union minister of state for textiles Ajay Tamta, state cabinet minister Yashpal Arya and BJP state chief Ajay Bhatt paid their tributes to Singh along with other administrative and CRPF officials.
MINOR SON LIGHTS PYRE
When Singh’s 2-year-old son, Bayan, lit the funeral pyre, locals in an anger-filled voice raised anti-pakistan slogans.
They demanded a ‘strong response to Pakistan over the attacks.’
Mohammadpur Bhuriya village chief Sunil Kumar said, “Every villager is mourning after the martyrdom of Virendra. We are boiling with anger and want befitting reply to Pakistan.” SRINAGAR: A team of National Investigative Agency (NIA) and State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL) that visited the site of terror attack in Pulwama district, has ruled out possibility of the suicide bomber using an SUV in the attack and concluded that the suicide bomber could have been driving a Maruti Suzuki Eeco which was fitted with RDX and other ammunitions.
On Friday, the team visited the spot to collect evidence about the explosives and the vehicle used by Adil Dar, the suicide bomber. The officials had also video graphed the terror spot where Dar had rammed his car into the bus ferrying CRPF personnels.
On Saturday, the NIA and SFSL team visited the site of terror again.
During preliminary investigation, the officials had suggested that the suicide bomber was driving Scorpio vehicle fitted with explosives.
A senior police officer privy to the investigations told HT that they have got clues from the spot that point out that the suicide bomber was driving a Maruti Suzuki Eeco. “The spot examinations and collection of samples suggest that the RDX and other material were used in the car to make it more lethal,’’ he said.
Police officials say that it is likely that the RDX used in the car could have been brought via Kathua or Jammu. “The investigation is in its early phase and efforts are on to identify the engine number of the vehicle and other details,’’ an official said.
Director general of CRPF, RR Bhatnagar who visited the site on Saturday said, “The forensic teams, NIA and CRPF is investigating the matter. More details will be out once the investigations are complete.’’
Police officials said before the attack took place there was an input from the Srinagar police regarding Jaish-e-mohammad planning a fidayeen attack on the Jammu-srinagar national highway, mostly an IED blast. However, there was no input about the suicide bomber ramming a convoy of the armed forces.
“We had an idea of an attack after the input was generated, however, it was not about a suicide bomber ramming into a convoy. The input was regarding an IED blast or a possible fidayeen attack on security installation,’’a senior police officer, said.