Martyr's body airlifted to Leh, handed over to family

Jammu, April 9: As Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Thursday witnessed noisy scenes and walkout by opposition over "disrespect" to martyred cop Shabir Hussain, his body was airlifted to Leh and handed over to the family members.

Minister for Cooperatives and Ladakh Affairs Chering Dorjey took the mortal remains of Hussain, which were airlifted to Leh from Srinagar and handed over to his family.

"We have airlifted the body to Leh from Srinagar today and handed it over to his family for burial at his native place," Dorjey told PTI. He said that the martyr was accorded a hero's welcome by people in Leh and the body was taken to his native place with full state honours.

Shabir was one of three cops killed by militants in Kashmir Valley. Denying any "disrespect" to the martyr, for which the opposition protested in the House, the minister said that the government had made serious efforts to shift the body to the cop's native place in Leh in a chopper yesterday but the inclement weather hampered the airlifting.

"As soon as the weather improved today, I flew to Srinagar and led the airlifting of the body to Leh," he said. The minister also extended deep condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul.

Shabir was one of three cops killed by militants in Kashmir Valley

Earlier today, the opposition held protests and staged a walkout from the House against the alleged failure of the government to airlift the body of the policeman killed in terrorist attack in Shopian on Monday.

The issue was raised by Leader of Congress Legislative Party (CLP) Nawag Rigzin Jora and legislators Delden Namgyal and Asgar Karbalai in the Assembly. They alleged that the government did not take timely steps to shift the body to the cop's hometown.

The minister had earlier told the House that the government is in solidarity with the bereaved family in this moment of grief and there is no question of any kind of slackness on this issue.

PTI