Suryanarayana's body consigned to flames

Hyderabad, May 2 (UNI) The mortal remains of K Suryanarayana, who was kidnapped and killed by the Taliban militants in Afghanistan on Saturday, were consigned to the flames today.

Suryanarayana's eight-year-old son Teja lit the pyre. A large number of mourners bade a tearful and emotional farewell to the telecom engineer.

Scores of people from Suryanarayana's native and his residing area Malkajigiri bid farewell to him. The funeral rites were performed by the priests amid chanting of vedic hymns.

Ms Manjula, widow of Suryanarayana, who attempted suicide last night, was undergoing treatment at a hospital here.

Suryanarayana's father and three children were inconsolable and were comforted by relatives and well wishers.

Ms Swapna, who claimed to be Suryanarayana's second wife, also attended the funeral despite initial resistance from the slain engineer's family.

Earlier, the funeral procession began from the engineer's house where the body was kept last night after being brought from Afghanistan.

Emotional scenes were witnessed the moment the body of Suryanarayana was taken for the last journey from his house.

UNI AP GM AK HT1040