Pall of gloom at martyr Rajesh Kumar Singh's village

The mortal remains of martyr Rajesh Kumar Singh, a Chhattisgarh Armed Force constable who was killed in Sunday's Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, were received by a huge crowd amid patriotic slogans when they reached his village Bihat, in Bihar's Begusarai district on Monday evening.

A pall of gloom descended on the village and wails of family members were unstoppable.

The 28-year-old martyr, the only son of a daily wage labourer, Nawal Kishore Prasad Singh, had returned to work only three days ago after having enjoyed a short holiday with his family. "I had a talk with him on Saturday evening when he said he was heading for an anti-Naxal operation and asked me to take care of the family," the father said.

Family members and neighbours also remembered him fondly with an acquaintance saying, "Before returning to work, he had met so many people in the village to exchange greetings. He was a very down-to-earth person."
Apart from his father and mother, Rajesh has left behind his wife, two sons aged 5 and 4 and a toddler daughter.

Bihar governor Satya Pal Malik expressed grief over his death and extended his condolence to the family members.

In Patna, his body was received by state labour resources minister Vijay Sinha, who said his martyrdom will not go in vain. Police personnel paid their last respect to him at the airport, following which the body was transported to his village. "We are saddened by his death but we will give a strong reply to those who have indulged in such a cowardly act," Sinha said and added that appropriate compensation will be given to the family members after due consultation with the local district administration.