Nation was above family for him: Krishnaveni

On Saturday, gripped with grief on seeing her husband’s body newly wedded Krishnaveni broke down saying, “The loss of my husband was seen as a sacrifice by the nation. Though he died with pride, it’s a big loss for me and family.”

Krishnaveni was married to Subramanian only on November 27, last year. He returned home only on six occasions to be with the family and her. “Whenever he is with me, my husband used to share his work experience. 

He said three convoy vehicles used to move in morning hours and other such vehicles could either move in afternoon or in evening hours.” He always used to talk of sacrificing his life for the nation she added and cried that it has come true so soon.

“Such deadly terror attacks should never recur and nobody else should experience the pain I am undergoing,” a sobbing Krishnaveni said.

Unable to bear the loss, his brother Krishnasamy said while at work in Dubai, news about suicide bomber blowing up a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir killing several jawans broke on the Facebook. “Momentarily, I spoke to my family at the village, where they were not aware and remained complacent. 

Subsequently, when Periyathurai, another jawan from the same village, was contacted, he acknowledged the fact that the CRPF convoy met with an accident killing many. Since both the siblings were away from home we longed much for our father Ganapathi, who underwent eye surgery,” he said.

During his vacation period, Subramanian used to play Kabbadi, cricket and football with some of the villagers and also devoted his time in agriculture along with his father, Kandasamy, a villager said.

More importantly, he motivated the youths to join the military and also to engage themselves in sports. The jawan was instrumental in forming Kabbadi team and named it as ‘Savalai Kings.’

The government authorities should take immediate steps to revive the historic airstrip in Kayathar, which should be revered and remembered and dedicate it to the martyred CRPF Jawan G Subramaniyan, a native of the union, who was killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama on the fateful day of February 14. 

The unused airstrip in Kayathar, which is rich in historical significance, in Thooothukudi remains idle. The airstrip, which came into existence in the British era during World War II, should at least be revived by now and put back to good use felt 

residents. 

The martyr was a native of Savalaperi village, Kayathar Panchayat Union. It would be a fitting tribute to the martyr if the historic airstrip was brought back into action, many local villagers, who mourned his death felt.

The existing airstrip, which lies on Mangamma Salai on Ettayapuram–Tenkasi Road at Pannirkulam, was once upon a time a land, where fighter planes landed and took off.

But the airstrip, which became obsolete, is now being used by some people to dry up agriculture produce, J Ponnuraj, a local resident, told DT Next on Saturday. It has also become a driving area for vehicle users to get themselves trained.

The airstrip, which became established before 1945, was used by the personnel attached to Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) during 1987. Much to agony, this historic site remains ignored by many as there’s not even a signboard, he said.

Ilasai Manian, another resident, said it was a picturesque airfield established with all basic amenities in those days when it remained as a military base and also for safe return of Tamil civilians from Singapore and Malaysia. But, this airstrip was not fully destroyed and it could be revived to reinforce defence capabilities, he said.

According to sources, the airstrip currently lies on 50.69 acres. It was in 2008 that a high level Air Force team visited Thoothukudi and explored possibilities of setting up an air force base at Kayathar. However, land record showed that acres of the airstrip land were owned by a private airliner in those days, sources added.

BJP national secretary H Raja, who condemned the attack in Pulwama in Kashmir, said that India is ready to take revenge on the attackers. Speaking to reporters in Kumbakonam on Saturday, Raja said, the incident has made it clear that the Pakistan has been training the extremists and it is time, the people stand united. He asked people not to politcise the incident and the nation is ready to take revenge and the army has been given full freedom on this. “Our army is strong and the officials are brave and 

the revenge is certain,” added Raja.

BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan on Saturday urged the state government to give government job under compassionate grounds to the kin of martyred jawans. After consoling Gandhimathi, the wife of the martyred jawan C Sivachandran at their residence at Karkudi in Ariyalur, Tamilisai said that the jawan wanted his son to become an IPS officer, which showed how much he loved the nation.

“Gandhimathi has completed nursing course and she has to be given employment in a government hospital and the government should take care of the education and other expenses for the family,” she added. She also sought to establish a memorial for the martyr Sivachandran and asked the youth take a lead in this. “The BJP has cancelled all its programmes as homage to the slain soldiers,” she said.