AP State funeral for slain leaders

Visakhapatnam: Poignant scenes were witnessed as state funeral was accorded to Araku MLA K Sarveswara Rao and former MLA S Soma on Monday who fell to Maoists’ bullets in Dumbriguda mandal in the Agency area here on Sunday.

Sarveswara Rao’s mortal remains were cremated at Paderu while the former MLA Soma's body was buried in accordance with Christian tradition in Araku valley even as the scenes tormented their family members and relatives beyond control.

Earlier, post-mortem examinations were done to their bodies at the government hospital at Paderu and later they were handed over to the members of their families. The relatives of Sarveswara Rao informed the government that they would observe the last rites at his horticulture farm in Paderu.

A large number of TDP activists and leaders and several leaders attended the two funerals. The district administration made the arrangements for according state honours.

Deputy Chief Minister N Chinarajappa, Ministers Chintakayala Ayyannapatrudu, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Kala Venkata Rao, Sujayakrishna Ranga Rao, N Anandababu, KS Jawahar, all the MLAs and MLCs were present.