Kin Bid Tearful Adieu To Martyred Colonel Babu

Amid chants of ‘Bharat mata ki jai’, the mortal remains of 39-year old Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, killed in a fierce clash with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh, were consigned to flames with full military honours in his native town here on Thursday.

Heart wrenching scenes were witnessed as the four-year-old son of the Colonel gave a last salute to his father along with his mother and sister, other relatives and friends as the body of the officer draped in national tri-colour was brought for final rites.

The funeral took place at the family-owned land with the Colonel’s father performing the rituals while the Army personnel accorded a gun salute.