Thousands attend Karkare's funeral

MUMBAI: Thousands attended the funeral procession of Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare Saturday to have a last glimpse of the officer who laid down his
life to save Mumbaikars in Wednesday terror attack.
       

Mumbaikars walked with the procession from both sides of the road from his Dadar residence to the crematorium in Shivaji Park in Central Mumbai.
       

Besides several top police officials including DGP A N Roy, city Police Commissioner Hassan Gafoor, Rakesh Maria and K L Prasad, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, his deputy R R Patil, Ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Harshvardhan Patil were present for the funeral.

Equal number of people were seen at Shivaji Park crematorium in central Mumbai where Karkare's last rites were performed.

People laid wreaths and garlands to offer their condolences to the brave ATS chief.
       

"All those police officials and NSG commandos should be honoured as they not only saved Mumbai and Mumbaikars but also people from foreign origin ," said 21-year-old Shweta Navare present outside the officer's residence in Dadar.
       

"We respect and salute all the brave policemen who fought against terrorism but at the same time we feel sad that those have laid their lives for the nation will hardly be
remembered but for sure they will always remain in the hearts of the common man," said Chetan Sawani a college student.

People were also seen holding placards at the funeral saying "We salute our brave soldiers, let the credit go to them and not the politicians".