Terror attack victim Manjunath Rao cremated with police honours

Pahalgam terror attack victim Manjunath Rao’s wife Pallavi and son Abhijay mourn near his mortal remains, in Shivamogga district on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi paying homage to Manjunath Rao, who died in the Pahalgam terror attack, in Shivamogga on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Shivamogga

The mortal remains of Manjunath Rao, who died in the terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Kashmir, were consigned to flames in Shivamogga on Thursday.

The final rites were conducted with police honours in the presence of family members, elected representatives, and senior officers of the Shivamogga district administration. Hundreds of people paid their respects to the deceased and took part in the procession.

The ambulance carrying the body reached the city by 10 a.m. Along the route, many people stopped the vehicle and paid their respects. Workers of the pro-Hindutva groups took out a bike rally along with the ambulance. Manjunath Rao’s wife Pallavi and son Abhijaya travelled from Bengaluru in a separate vehicle.

Shivamogga district administration had made security arrangements at Mr. Rao’s residence at Vijaya Nagar. Barricades were in place to handle the crowd visiting the house to pay homage. The public were allowed to pay respect after the rituals were conducted.

Manjunath Rao’s mother, Sumathi, was inconsolable. Many of his relatives from Shivamogga and distant places had gathered.

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi was among the elected representatives who paid homage and addressed the gathering at the residence. Minister for School Education Madhu Bangarappa also visited the residence and paid his respects to the deceased.

Later, the body was taken in a procession to the Rotary crematorium. The body was placed in a specially decorated vehicle. Besides the family members, MP for Shivamogga B.Y. Raghavendra, S.N. Channabasappa, MLA, and others accompanied the procession, which covered Sagar Road, Kuvempu Road, Sheenappa Shetty Circle, A.A. Circle, and Shivappa Nayaka Circle before reaching the crematorium. The traders and businessmen of the city observed a bandh during the procession. The business establishments on Nehru Road, Durgigudi, and Gandhi Bazaar remained closed.

Manjunath Rao’s son Abhijaya performed the last rites.