Date:10/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/10/stories/2008121054200400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Ministers visit Sandeep’s parents

Staff Reporter

— By Special Arrangement

Sharing grief: K. Unnikrishnan and Dhanalakshmi, parents of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, receiving the solatium of Rs.15 lakh announced by the State government from the Ministers K.P. Rajendran, Elamaram Karim and Benoy Viswom in Bangalore on Monday. A. Jayathilak, District Collector, Kozhikode, is seen.

Bangalore: The Ministers K.P. Rajendran, Elamaram Karim and Benoy Viswom and A. Jaythilak, District Collector, Kozhikode, on Monday, visited K. Unnikrishnan, father of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was killed while engaged in a commando operation against terrorists in Mumbai.

Cheque handed over

The Ministers handed over a cheque for Rs.15 lakh to Mr. Unnikrishnan and Dhanalakshmi, Sandeep’s mother.

The Ministers and the Collector spent close to 30 minutes with the family.

Referring to the visit of Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, which generated much controversy, Mr. Unnikrishnan said he was not himself then.

Sources said he told the Ministers that he was overcome by grief then and the loss of his only child had only just begun to sink in.

The Ministers pacified Ms. Dhanalakshmi, who was weeping, and said the amount was just a token of the love and affection of the people of Kerala, the Chief Minister and the State government. It was a loss that could not be quantified and they understood why Mr. Unnikrishnan refused to meet Mr. Achuthanandan. Mr. Viswom, who had called Mr. Nair on the day of the funeral, said: “I spoke to Mr. Nair for more than 20 minutes that day and I knew that the person who spoke to me that day would never have behaved so unless he was deeply troubled. The Kerala government understands it and is empathetic towards the family.”