Pics: Major Mukund Varadarajan laid to rest with full military honours

Chennai, April 29: The "brave son of India" Major Mukund Varadarajan, who was killed along with a jawan in an encounter with militants in Shopian district of south Kashmir was laid to rest with full military honours on Monday, at Besant Nagar crematorium in Chennai.

Amid tears and whiff of sadness in the air, the martyr Major was honoured with 14-men military gun salute.

Hundreds of people including his relatives, friends and defence personnel had gathered at the funeral of the departed soul.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had ordered Rs 10 lakh solatium to members of the bereaved family and also written to the Major's wife, extending condolences and calling the young officer "a brave son" and "courageous soldier."

The Major, a native of nearby Tambaram, joined 22 Rajput after training at Officers' Training Academy (OTA). He had been deployed with the 44 Rashtriya Rifles for counter-insurgency operations in Shopian.

31-year-old Major Mukund is survived by his wife Indhu Rebecca Varghese and a 3-year-old daughter Arsheya.

In a heart-rending moment, Arsheya was asked to bid final farewell to her father by saying 'goodnight' and 'goodbye'.

Security forces had launched search operations in Karewa Malino in Shopian, 55 km from Srinagar on April 25 on information about presence of three Hizb-ul Mujahideen militants.

State governor K Rosaiah expressed shock and grief over the death.

The Nation, especially the Indian Army, has lost a brave and young promising officer and his death is an irreparable loss, he said in a release, condoling the death.

A wreath was placed on the body on behalf of the Governor, the Raj Bhavan release said.

Here are the pics of Major Mukund's farewell:

Major Mukund's funeral

The 'martyred' Major was honoured with 14-men military gun salute.

Major Mukund and Sepoy Vikram Singh

Hundreds of people including his relatives, friends and defence personnel had gathered at the funeral of the departed soul.

Indhu Mukund pays tribute to her husband

Indhu Mukund paying respect to her husband Major Mukund Varadarajan who was killed in an encounter with terrorists in Shopian area of J & K last week, during his cremation in Chennai on Monday.

Indhu Mukund receives the uniform of her husband

An Army officer handing over to Indhu Mukund the uniform of her husband Major Mukund Varadarajan who was killed in an encounter with terrorists in Shopian area of J & K last week, during his cremation in Chennai on Monday.

Major Mukund's bereaved family members

Wife Indhu Mukund, daughter Arshea and parents of Major Mukund Varadarajan who was killed in an encounter with terrorists in Shopian area of J & K last week, during his cremation in Chennai on Monday.

Meanwhile, the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Tuesday condoled the death of Major Mukund Varadarajan and sepoy Vikram Singh.

His wife posted her tribute to her martyred husband on Facebook:

<div id="fb-root"></div> <script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script> <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/indhu.varghese/posts/10152113153998348" data-width="466"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/indhu.varghese/posts/10152113153998348">Post</a> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/indhu.varghese">Indhu Rebecca Varghese</a>.</div></div>

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