Home they brought their warrior dead!

A 28-year-old Kashmiri Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) constable has made the country proud by laying down his life while fighting gallantly against the Maoist in Chhattisgarh. Mohammad Shafi Bhat of Pattan in north Kashmir's Baramulla district was among the 14 CRPF men killed in Sukma district in Chhattisgarh on Monday. Thousands of people gathered at his ancestral village Buran on Wednesday to pay tributes to the son of soil.

Wrapped in the tricolour, the people took the coffin on their shoulders chanting religious hymns. The soldier was buried with full honours as people and CRPF men paid a tearful adieu. Entire village was on the roads to pay last respects to the martyred soldier.

Usually such scenes are witnessed when any civilian is killed in the restive Kashmir valley. Pride and pain galore for the family of Bhat as his body arrived from Chhattisgarh for last rites. Bhat is survived by a wife and two kids, youngest of them four months old.

"He had rejoined his duties just few days before. He had come home on leave and left to join the duties. On Sunday evening we got to know that he is no more," said Irfan Ahmad Bhat, brother of slain Bhat.

Bhat had joined CRPF eight years ago and has served in different areas of the country. "He married just one and half years ago and had two children. His daughter is one year old and the son is born just four months before," Irfan said

Inspector general of CRPF Nalin Prabhat said the CRPF will never forget the sacrifices of their colleagues and they will avenge these killings.