ALAPPUZHA: Lance Naik Sam Abraham, 35, who was killed in the Pakistani border firing on Friday, was given a tearful farewell at his native place at Punnamood near Mavelikkara on Monday. The body was brought from Thiruvananthapuram on Monday morning and placed at Bishop Hodges Higher Secondary School, Mavelikara, to enable the public to pay their last respects. Later, the body was taken to his house at Punnamood in a procession.
Thousands of people thronged the place to bid him farewell. Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P. J. Kurian, MPs Kodikunnil Suresh and K.C. Venugopal and many other leaders attended the funeral function. Catholicos Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II led the rituals. The body was laid to rest with Army and police honours at a special tomb made on the premise of St Gregarious Orthodox Church, close MGM English medium school where he had his primary education.
A member of the Sixth Madras Regiment, Sam Abraham was killed in Sunderbani sector along the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir in the cross-firing. He was to retire in November 2018 after 17 years of service. He is survived by his wife Anu, daughter Angel and parents Abraham John and Saramma.
