Martyred jawan’s mortal remains reach his village, final rites to be held today

Tirupati: The mortal remains of martyred soldier M Murali Naik reached his native village Kalli Thanda, under Gorantla mandal of Sri Sathya Sai district in Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday evening. The final rites of the soldier, who was killed in cross-border shelling from Pakistan near Uri sector in Jammu on Friday, will be held on Sunday.Murali (25), who was the only son of Sriram Naik and Jyoti Bai (who worked as a construction worker and domestic help in Mumbai, respectively), joined the Indian Army in Oct 2022 and was recently posted at Uri, where he sacrificed his life while trying to protect the nation's borders. His mortal remains were flown to Bengaluru airport and shifted to his native village from there by road. Scores of people from different walks of life joined the procession of the martyred soldier from Gummayyagari Palli junction to his Kalli Thanda residence. His parents were inconsolable upon seeing the body of their son wrapped in the tricolour. They remembered that Murali had come home for Sankranti festival and stayed with them for 15 days. "On Thursday night, moments before he laid down his life on the line of duty, he had called and enquired about our well being. He also informed us that firing from Pakistani forces had intensified," they recalled, as tears rolled down their eyes.Sri Sathya Sai district SP V Rathna reviewed the security arrangements for the final rites of Murali to be carried out at his native village on Sunday. She informed that deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan, home minister Vangalapudi Anitha, HRD minister Nara Lokesh, and a few Union ministers will attend his final procession and pay their tributes to the martyred soldier. The final rites will be held with state and military honours at 12 noon on Sunday.