Mumbai shoot out victim's body arrives in Patna amid pall of gloom

Patna, Oct 28 (UNI) A pall of gloom decended at the Patna airport and the residence of Rahul Raj Prasad, as the body of yesterday's Mumbai shoot out victim arrived here tonight amid high emotions.

The bullet-riddled body which was handed over to Rahul's cousin and grandmother by the J.J hospital authority in Mumbai after post mortem this afternoon, came to Patna via New Delhi by an Indian flight at around 21-00 hours.

From the airport his coffin containing the body was taken straight to his Kadamkuan residence in a police truck as hundreds of people including Rahul's relatives, friendss and neighbours gathered there since evening ignoring the glitter and festivities of Diwali.

As the coffin carrying the body was taken out from the truck the errie silence converted into loud and uncontrolable cry making it very difficult for the security forces to control them from surging ahead and touch it at least for once.

Among those present was Rahul's father Kundan Raj Prasad, who formally received the body of his youngest son. However, no minister or leader of any political party was seen on the spot.

A large number of security forces were deployed in and around the airport and near his house apart from several sensitive areas of the city to prevent the situation going out of control in the wake of a posssible emotional outburst and any other untoward incident.

However, people largely remained calm and composed to enable many others from all across the city to pay their last respect to the departed soul.

Later tonight Rahul's body was expected to be taken to the local burning ghat in a motorcade for performing the last rites in presence of large number of people.

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