BHOPAL: Angry family members of Narayan Sonkar, a CRPF jawan who was killed in a naxal attack in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, refused to perform his funeral till chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reached the place. The incident happened at the martyr’s ancestral village Gangatirakalan in Rewa district on Wednesday. The martyr’s wife insisted that the funeral would be done only after the CM arrives. Even as the administrative officers were trying to persuade her, the villagers also joined forces with him.
Local MP Janardan Mishra’s efforts to pacify were in vain. Then industries minister Rajendra Shukla was summoned. He rushed to the place and assured the family members that the CM would visit their village and their demands would be considered. It was only after this that the kin agreed to perform the last rites.
Suneeta, the wife of the martyr, was calm and composed at during the ceremony. She said that not only her but the entire family was proud of Sonkar’s sacrifice. She said that her son should be given a job with the CRPF so that he can avenge his father’s killing. Sonkar’s has a son Deepak and a daughter Sudha.
CM announces Rs 25 lakh, job
After being informed of the resentment among the kin, the CM, while regretting that he could not attend the funeral, announced Rs 25 lakh aid, a government job and plot for the family. He said a statue of Sonkar would be erected in the district. He said he would soon travel to the village to meet the family members.
