CHENNAI: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami on Tuesday announced a solatium of Rs 20 lakh each to families of four CRPF jawans from the state even as their bodies were flown to their home towns from Sukma in Chhattisgarh. A day after the CRPF jawans were killed in one of the worst-ever attacks against security personnel by Maoist rebels, bodies of M. Padmanaban, N. Senthil Kumar, N. Thirumurugan and P. Azhagupandi were airlifted from Chhattisgarh to Tamil Nadu. At least 26 jawans died in the ambush.
While Padmanaban hailed from Thanjavur, Senthil Kumar belonged to Tiruvarur, Thirumurugan to Salem and Azhagupandi to Madurai. While an IAF aircraft carrying the bodies of Padmanaban, Senthil Kumar and Thirumurugan touched down at the Tiruchy airport, another aircraft with the body of Azhagupandi landed in Madurai. The bodies were later taken to the native places of the jawans for last rites.
While condoling the death of the four jawans in a statement, Mr Palanisami said their families would be provided Rs 20 lakh each. “I have directed providing a sum of Rs 20 lakh each to the families of the four deceased CRPF personnel,” he said in a statement. The group of jawans was reportedly taking lunch while the others were on guard near Burkapal village when heavily armed rebels cordoned off the area and started raining bullets before detonating a powerful explosive.
