The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Thousands take part in funeral procession

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Tuesday, Feb 19, 2008
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Thousands take part in funeral procession

Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR: Thousands of residents of the city on Monday gathered to pay their last respects at the funeral of Susanta Gouda, the Personal Security Officer (PSO) of Berhampur Superintendent of Police (SP), who laid down his life fighting with the Maoists inside the Gosama forest.

His body was brought to the city on Sunday night.

Ganjam District Collector V.K. Pandian and Berhampur SP Nitinjeet Singh reached the residence of Gouda at Panigrahipentha street to offer their tributes.

Later, the body covered with the national flag was carried in a large procession from his home to the funeral ground at Aska road. Thousands of people of all ages as well as policemen of the city marched along to the funeral ground. Susanta was given gun salute by the armed force before his pyre was lit up. The large crowd hailed the bravery of Susanta.

Mr. Singh praised the bravery of the young jawan who also hailed from a policeman’s family. His father Niranjan Gouda serves the police force as a havildar at the town police station of the city.

Born in 1982, Susanta joined police force in 2002. He had undergone anti-extremist training, PSO and sophisticated weapon training in Jabalpur. On Friday night he was part of the police, led by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) R.P. Koche and Mr. Singh that was fighting with the Maoist ultras hiding on the Gosama hill. Naxals were using light machine guns looted from Nayagarh armoury from advantageous position. Susant was hit by a naxal bullet on his head while he was trying to locate a position to fire at the ultras.

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