Eknath Shetty given due respect, Uniform Reaches Home Town
Mangaluru: The uniform of Soldier Ekanath Shetty reached to his hometown, Guruvayanakere, after it was brought to the Mangaluru Police grounds, here on October 28.
The Uniform, shoes, Towel and other belongings were packed in a box and brought to Mangaluru by train which reached Mangaluru Central railway station at 8.00am. Later the box was brought to the SP office. District minister in-charge Ramanath Rai, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Capt Ganesh Karnik, SP Bhushan Borase, ACP Uday Nayak and former servicemen gathered at the SP’s office ground to pay their respect.
Speaking to mangalorean.com MP Nalin Kumar said, “Eknath Shetty has served the country, even after his retirement he was serving in the Indian Army. The family members still waiting for Eknath Shetty’s arrival. Eknath Shetty was missing since the Indian Air Force AN-32 aircraft went missing with 29 soldiers on board on July 22. Now the air force has declared all the military personnel dead”.
District Minister In-charge Ramanath Rai said, “Many soldiers have dedicated their lives to the country and Eknath Shetty is one among them. We do not know for sure whether he is alive or dead but it is our duty to respect him. Today the Military has sent his uniform to his hometown. Being the district minister in-charge I am here to pay my respects to Eknath Shetty. I know Eknath Shetty personally since I know his family very closely. Eknath Shetty’s wife is from my hometown and we are very close to his family. Eknath Shetty’s family is in grief and I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this great loss”.
Capt Ganesh Karnik said, “Eknath Shetty has dedicated his life to the country, everyone does not get the opportunity to serve the country. Today, Eknath Shetty is not with us, we do not know whether he is alive or dead. He is missing along with another 28 soldiers in an incident. In the military there is a system, first, we say missing in action and later we say presumed dead, means he is not with us. But whatever benefits his family should get from the government as well as from the Military they should get it, and so they pronounce him as Presumed dead”.
Karnik further said, “Once the missing soldier is pronounced “presume dead”, the Military will hand over the soldiers uniform and personal belongings to the soldiers family with due respect. Today we are handing over the uniform to Eknath’s family members. We do not know the feelings of his family members, but we all are with them to share their grief. Myself being a former serviceman, I say that the soldiers sacrifice everything for the sake of the country and go wherever they are sent to serve. In our country, such incidents happen every now and then. Soldiers think only of serving the country forgetting caste, creed, and religion. We Indians are all one, we respect our soldiers. Ekanath Shetty’s sacrifice should be an inspiration for our youth to serve the country. Let almighty God give strength to Eknath’s family to bear the great loss”.
President Ex-servicemen Association Vikram Datta, speaking to mangalorean.com said, “Eknath Shetty was missing since the Indian Air Force AN-32 aircraft went missing with 29 onboard on July 22. According to the Military system, we wait for 100 days for the return of any soldier and then the military announces that the soldier is “presume dead”. The military will also arrange to hand over the Uniform and the personal belonging of the particular soldier to his family with respect. As per the Military rules, the uniform and personal belonging of Eknath Shetty are being handed over to his family members”.
Vikram further said, “Whatever the benefits Eknath was supposed to get from the Military and the government will be given. In a couple of months time, all the benefits will be given to his family so that his family should lead a respectful life. We hope by the grace of God and the people’s wish he may return one day.”
Eknath Shetty’s father Krishna Shetty was also present. The uniform was taken to Guruvayanakere accompanied by his family members. Later from Madanthyar the uniform will be carried in a procession to Guruvayanakere. A vehicle Jatha has been arranged to take the Soldier’s uniform in a procession.
