CRPF blast victim laid to rest in city

Chennai: "I am proud of my son who was killed in a Maoist ambush in Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday," D Vijayaraj's mother D Mohana Bagheerathy said.

The body Vijayaraj, a sub-inspector with the central reserve police force (CRPF), reached home by air on Thursday night. The body was cremated at the Ayapakkam crematorium on Friday.

CRPF deputy inspector-general (DIG) Ilango addressed the media after paying last respects to the soldier. He said, "We respect the man. He boldly fought boldly when Maoists attacked the Warrangal police station a few years ago. He was injured then too. He was also good at the signals," the DIG said.

The officer said, "We will ensure that Vijayaraj's daughter Nisha, in Class 10 now, gets a government job on compassionate grounds after she completes her studies."

"I am proud to have mothered the brave soldier," Vijayaraj's mother Mohana Bhageerathy said. Vijayaraj visited Chennai last month and returned two weeks ago to his camp in Maoist-infested Dantewada. Police said at least seven jawans, including Vijayaraj, were killed after a landmine went off near Melawada village in Dantewada while the para-military forces were moving from one camp to another in a truck on Wednesday. Tiruvallur district collector Sundaravalli gave a cheque for 10 lakh to the bereaved family members on Friday. Vijayaraj is survived by wife, V Sharmila, and daughter Nisha.

Vijayaraj's father, Damodharan, was so popular in the place and Dunlop Company in Ambattur and hence the area, where Vijayaraj's family lived has been named as Damodharan Street in Kavi Bharathi Nagar.

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