Rathor cremated with state honours

Raipur, May 23 (UNI) The mortal remains of Chhattisgarh's top police official Om Prakash Rathor, a former police advisor to United Nations Organisation, were consigned to flames here with state honours today.

His sons Ashutosh and Abhishek jointly lit the funeral pyre at the Devendra Nagar crematorium.

Governor E S L Narasimhan, Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam, other ministers, leader of the opposition Mahendra Karma, Chief Secretary Shivraj Singh and other senior civil and police officials attended the funeral.

Later at a condolence meeting, the Governor, Chief Minister and others paid homage to Mr Rathor, who, they said, had raised the spirit of tribals to fight against Naxalism during his tenure as the Director General of Police.

Mr Rathor, an IPS officer of 1973 batch, died on May 21 after he suffered a massive heart attack while speaking at a function organised on 'anti-terrorism day' to mark the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Before his stint in the state police, he had served as police advisor to the United Nations (UN). Recognising his commitment and multi-faceted role, the then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan bestowed upon him the prestigious UN-21 award. He was also honoured with the UN medal (eight bars) and Minurso medal (16 bars) for his outstanding contribution to the peace keeping mission in Western Sahara.

UNI