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Mortal remains of Col Santosh Babu arrive in Hyderabad
Cyberabad police commissioner and other police officers received the mortal remains of the commanding officer (CO) of 16 Bihar Regiment, who was killed in hand-to-hand combat with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley.
The mortal remains of Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu (37), the commanding officer of 16th battalion of Bihar Regiment, who was killed in hand-to-hand combat with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Monday night, will be consigned to flames at his native village Kasarabad in Telangana’s Suryapet district on Thursday, his family members said.
The body of the slain Colonel will arrive in Hyderabad on Wednesday evening. However, earlier on Wednesday, Santosh’s wife Santoshi, along with their two children – daughter Abhigna (9) and son Anirudh (4) – arrived at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad, located on the outskirts of Hyderabad, from New Delhi at around 9:30 am.
Cyberabad police commissioner, VC Sajjanar, along with Shamshabad deputy commissioner of police, N Prakash Reddy, and other police officers received Santosh’s family members at the airport.
Sajjanar expressed his grief and conveyed heartfelt condolences to fallen braveheart’s family.
Santosh’s father B Upender, a retired manager of State Bank of India (SBI), could not come to the airport, as doctors have advised him to take rest because he is suffering from low blood pressure, the commissioner said.
Later, the family left for Suryapet by a special vehicle, which was arranged by Telangana energy minister G Jagadish Reddy, who also hails from Suryapet.
Santosh’s body will be taken to Suryapet in another special vehicle in the evening and kept at his residence for locals to pay homage.
The last rites would be performed with full military honours at his native village Kasarabad on Thursday morning, the commissioner of police said.
A pall of gloom descended on Suryapet town, as people in large numbers, thronged Santosh’s residence to share their condolences with the family. Many carried national flags and raised slogans like: “Santosh amar rahe,” (Long live Santosh) and “we are proud of our hero”,
Police have put up barricades in Suryapet to ensure that the visitors would maintain social distancing because of the raging coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. Hand sanitisers are in place and every visitor has been urged to undergo thermal screening in a bid to keep the viral outbreak at bay.
Officials are trying to ensure that only close family members of Santosh and dignitaries are allowed to visit his ancestral house, as it has been cordoned off for the general public.
His relatives, childhood friends, and acquaintances thronged to his residence and shared fond memories of the martyr.
Minister Reddy is personally supervising the arrangements for his last rites in coordination with the Army officials.
He visited Colonel Santosh’s parents and consoled them. The Telangana government assured the family all support in this hour of grief.
Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao expressed shock over the Colonel’s death and said his sacrifice for the country is invaluable.
The CM conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Santosh’s parents, wife, and children, and other family members.
