Indian embassy attack: Brig Mehta cremated

New Delhi, Jul 8 (UNI) Fighting back tears, Flight Lieutenant Udit Mehta today lit the pyre of his father Brig R D Mehta, who was among the four Indians killed in yesterday's suicide attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul.

''He was my hero and will remain a hero for me,'' said the 24-year-old MiG 27 pilot after performing the funeral service of his father at the Brar Square crematorium this afternoon.

Wreaths on behalf of President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A K Antony and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi were laid on the body before the cremation.

Brig Mehta's 19-year-old daughter Bhavya could not hold back her tears as she consoled her mother Sunita when the funeral service was being performed.

While Flt Lt Udit is posted at Jodhpur, Bhavya is pursuing her BSc in biotechnology.

An IL 76 transport aircraft of the IAF had brought back the bodies of Counsellor V Venkateshwara Rao, Defence Attache Brig R D Mehta, and two ITBP security personnel Ajai Pathaniya and Roop Singh from Kabul shortly after midnight last night.

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