Tributes paid to slain cops, former members

BHUBANESWAR: Members in the Assembly on Tuesday paid tributes to seven security personnel, including four from BSF, who laid down their lives fighting Maoists in the State. The House also mourned the death of former minister and former leader of the Opposition Ulaka Ramachandra and former members Bhanu Prakash Joshi, Gopinath Bhoi and Kanhu Charan Mallick.Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik moved a motion in the House as soon as the customary Governor’s address on the first day of the budget session was over.The motion was supported by the leaders of Congress, BJP, NCP and CPI leaders who too made obituary references. The late security personnel of BSF comprised JR Khaswan, ex-commandant, Rajesh Sharan, second-in-command, Ashok Kumar Yadav, ex-inspector and Jitendra Kumar, ex-ASI. Tributes were also paid to Odisha Police’s ex-constables Sunasira Mohanty, Umakanta Jani and Sangram Kumar Lenka.While BSF personnel died in a landmine explosion in Malkangiri district on February 10, the three Odisha police personnel died in Kandhamal district while fighting the ultras, Naveen said.“Ulaka Ramachandra was a prominent tribal leader who had been elected to the Assembly seven times and also became minister. He was also leader of the Opposition for sometime,” Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh said.