Colonel Santhosh Babu last rites to be held in Suryapet tomorrow

The last rites of Colonel Bikkamalla Santosh Babu who was martyred along with other two jawans at Galwan valley on Monday night will be held at his hometown in Suryapet tomorrow. The colonel's parents reached Hyderabad to collect his mortal remains which will reach today at Hakimpet air force station by 4 pm.

The officials said that the funeral of colonel is not possible to hold in Suryapet in the view of the prevailing coronavirus situation of the state. However, the union minister Kishan Reddy directed the officials to hold the last rites of Santosh Babu as per his parents wish. The minister also ordered the officials not to hurt the sentiments of his family members by asking them to follow physical distancing.

Meanwhile, the family of Santosh Babu urged the authorities to permit them to hold his last rites in Suryapet.

Santosh Babu is the only son of Upender and Manjula who lost his life in a skirmish with Chinese soldiers on Monday night. He is survived by wife Santoshi, daughter Abhigna (9) and son Anirudh (4). They reached Hyderabad today morning from New Delhi.

Cyberabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar, Shamshabad DCP N Prakash Reddy and other police officers received the bereaved family members at the airport.