While the nation is still mourning the death of 26 CRPF jawans killed in an attack by Maoist insurgents in Chattisgarh Sukma on April 24, the attack has shocked a father who lost his 28-year-old son. The death of his son has not bogged down the moral of his father. He is still determined to send his younger son to join the army.
Pitchialagu, a retired army man and a heartbroken father of martyred jawan Alagupandi from Muthunagaiyahpuram village in Madurai district is ready to send his younger son Pavithran (23) to join army.
Most of the people in Alagupandi’s family are part of security forces while he had joined CRPF in 2009.
Pitchialagu had also served army and about 20 years ago. Pitchialagu’s two daughters are married to an army man and a police officer.
Speaking about Alagupandi, his cousin Muthusamy said, “his family had looked for a girl for his marriage, he wanted to meet her and then his marriage was to be fixed.”
“Alagupandi used to call once in 10 days and speak to everyone. When he was at the headquarters, he used to call often but when he used to go to the forest for his duty, he could not call much,” Muthusamy added.
The attack took place on personnel of the CRPF’s 74th Battalion as they were assisting the local population in road building activity in the district.
About 300 Maoists came down from hilltops and attacked the personnel while they were having lunch. This is said to be one of the worst Maoist attack in the last seven years.
