Suryapet: Tearful farewell to Colonel Santosh Babu

Suryapet: It was tearful farewell to Colonel Bikkumulla Santosh Babu, who was martyred in a clash with Chinese troops in Ladakh on Monday.

The mortal remains of Col Babu were consigned to flames with army precision and full military honours in his agriculture farm at Kesaram village in Suryapet district on Thursday.

Several senior officials from the regiment conducted the proceedings as per the military procedures, including carrying the coffin up to the pyre. Upender, father of Col Babu, lit the pyre around noon. The jawans from 16 Bihar Regiment gave a gun salute to the departed soldier. The funeral procession began from Col Babu's house early in the morning. A large number of people wearing masks participated in the procession.

As a mark of respect, shops and other business establishments observed complete shutdown in the town. People were seen standing in serpentine queues all along the procession of 6 km-stretch and threw flowers petals on the body.

Many political leaders, including state Energy minister G Jagadish Reddy, TPCC chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy and former Defence Minister Pallam Raju, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Gutha Sukhender Reddy, officials and non-officials were also present.