War widows, students pay respects

BENGALURU: Two days ago Beena Thomas didn’t know who Major Akshay Girish Kumar was. But, on Thursday, she was at his house to pay her respects along with her son, travelling more than 30km to the house in Sadahalli.
The widow of Col Jojan Thomas, a Jat Regiment officer who was killed in a 2008 operation against terrorists in Machil sector of Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir, Beena said she understood the family’s pain.Akshay was killed while fighting terrorists at Nagrota on Tuesday.
“I am here because the country lost a brave soldier and I understand what a family goes through when something like this happens. I lost my father eight years ago,” said Philemon Thomas, 19, who was 11 when his father died.
Many who didn’t know the officer but wanted to pay their respects went to the family’s house in Sadahalli. Adrija Sen, a resident of Ramamurthynagar, said: “I didn’t know him but I felt it was my duty to thank him. We are proud of Major Akshay Kumar.”
“We live our small lives. This is the least we can do to thank him for the sacrifice he and his family have made,” said Santosh, one of the youngsters from the village, who was waiting near the house.
A group of students from Sadahalli secondary school went to their house during their break. “Our teacher told us about him. He gave his life for the country. We wanted to thank him,” said Harish, a Class 10 student.