The body of a soldier from Kodagu, who was found dead at the Amritsar market before he could take charge, was laid to rest at his native place Bekkesudlur, near Ponnampet in Virajpet taluk on sunday. His body was found hanging from the shutter of one of the shops at Amritsar and bore injury marks.
The deceased soldier, Machangada Sanju Ponnappa (32) was the son of Machangada Somaiah and Radha couple, residents of Bekkesudlur in South Kodagu and was the bread winner for the family.
The body of Sanju, which was brought to Bekkesudlur in the wee hours of sunday, was accompanied by Subedar Balbir Singh.
The martyr was laid to rest at the village with officials from the district and taluk remaining absent.
Meanwhile, Sanju’s brother Jeevan, who expressed doubts about the death of Sanju as there were stab injuries on his neck, said that the Government and the Army should conduct a probe and bring the culprits to book.
MLA K.G. Bopaiah and ZP President Sharin Subbaiah visited the house of the martyr and offered condolences to the parents of Sanju.
Meanwhile, people who had assembled in the house of Sanju, were heard telling that though the body of the soldier who guarded the country had arrived to his native place, none of the district or the taluk officials had come to pay their last respects.
Lance Naik M S Ponnappa cremated in Kodagu today. District administration officials not present. What an insult. pic.twitter.com/w8pxok9QYW
— Kodagu Connect (@KodaguConnect) April 19, 2015
Kodagu Connect was the first to tweet about the apathy shown by district officials. Mysore-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha had replied back saying he will look into the matter and speak to DC about the same. It seems the District Officials were not informed about the death of the soildier.
@KodaguConnect Spoke to DC, he is completely unaware n police has not informed him. Tmrw he is sending officials to his house — Pratap Simha (@mepratap) April 19, 2015
This news story and title has been edited by Coorg.com
