Karkala can’t stop crying for its son-in-law

Ganesh Mavanji

Mangaluru: As the whole country grieved over the untimely demise of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday, Karkala taluk in Udupi district too shed tears for its son-in-law who lost his life in the same chopper crash

Lt Col Harjinder Singh was the son-in-law of Karkala resident Late Felix Menezes and Mary Menezes. He had married Lt Agnes Prafulla Menezes, their daughter here in Salmara in Karkala. Soon after the names of those who died in the crash became public, a pall of gloom descended on Karkala with relatives of Prafulla Menezes left shocked.

Prafulla has been serving as a lieutenant in the Army and was in the force when she fell in love with Harjinder Singh and later got married. After their marriage, they came to Salmara in Karkala several times on visits.

Pushpa Menezes, sister of Prafulla Menezes told mediapersons that Harjinder was very nice not only to family members but also to his subordinates in the Army.

The deadly crash on Wednesday in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, killed 11 of the 14 on board the illfated flight including Lt Col Harjinder Singh with only Group Captain Varun Singh surviving the tragedy.

The bodies of the victims which were badly burnt, had to be identified using DNA technology, said sources.