Bangalore: Two soldiers cremated

While Colonel Vasant was killed in the Uri sector, Timmaiah died in an ambush at the J&K valley last week. Both of them were barely 40 years of age.

The bodies of Colonel Vasant and K Timmaiah, a soldier were flown into Bangalore without a whisper. Ironically the body of Timmaiah reached Bangalore the same day Dr Haneef arrived (Sunday, July 29).

The case of Colonel Vasant was no different. His body reached Bangalore on Tuesday night and there was not a word of condolence from the men in power.

The question that the general public is asking is why the Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy did not react to the deaths of the two soldiers?

"He had the time to greet Haneef and even offer him a job as though he was some kind of national hero," questions Colonel R P Singh.

The army personnel who waited to receive the body spoke with disgust about the manner in which the state machinery treated the soldiers. "These are people who died fighting for us and look at the manner in which they are treated," said a jawan.

Timmaiah was cremated in his hometown two days back while the last rites of Vasant were conducted in Bangalore on Wednesday morning. The minister for Health, R Ashok however realised that the government had gone wrong on this issue and rushed in the nick of time for the cremation of Colonel Vasanth.

The families of the two soldiers are shattered. "Timmaiaha's family members say no one from the government had even a word of condolence. They should be offering the next of kin the jobs they need it the most.

While Dr Haneef continues to hog the limelight, the families of the two Indian soldiers only continue to weep silently.

Sources in the government however say that it is unfair to criticise the chief minister. He cannot be at 100 places at the same time. The government will surely do something for the family.