Kolkata, Oct 14 (PTI) The last rites of sub-inspectorAmitabha Malik, who was killed when alleged supporters of GJMchief Bimal Gurung fired at a police team yesterday, wasperformed today with full state honours after his body arrivedat his ancestral home in North 24 Parganas district.
The body was brought to the city airport in the afternoonfrom Bagdogra. Malik's wife accompanied the coffin.
It was later taken to his ancestral home at Madhyamgramin a hearse by road and subsequently to Nimtola crematorium ataround 5 pm.
Malik was killed and four other policemen were seriouslyinjured after allegedly Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)supporters, owing allegiance to its chief Bimal Gurung, firedat a police team at a forest area near Darjeeling yesterday.
The police was on the trail to nab Gurung, who wassuspected to be hiding there.
West Bengal Higher Education Minister Partha Chatterjeeand Food Minister Jyotipriyo Mallick received the body at theairport and offered floral tributes to the slain policeman.
Both the ministers, along with other leaders and seniorpolice officials, accompanied the coffin to his ancestral homewhere gun salute was given by the state police in the presenceof the DGP Surojit Kar Purokayastha and other top officials.
As Malik's wife broke into tears, his family members,neighbours and a large number of people assembled at a clubground at Madhyamgram, where the coffin was kept for people topay their last respect.
Chatterjee handed over a cheque of Rs five Lakh to thefamily of the deceased on behalf of Chief Minister MamataBanerjee and assured the family that appropriate action willbe taken against those behind his killing.
"Our son's soul will rest in peace only if Bengal remainsundivided and Darjeeling continues to remain a part of it,"Malik's parents said.
Gurung has been on the run since August after cases underthe Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act were slapped againsthim for his alleged involvement in several bomb blasts inDarjeeling and its adjoining areas.
This is the first incident of violence after the 104-daylong indefinite shutdown in the hills was called off onSeptember 26 by Gurung, following an appeal by Union homeminister Rajnath Singh. PTI AKB JMABH.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.