Mahendra Karma's final rites performed with state honours

Raipur: The final rites of late Congress leader and founder of controversial anti-Maoist Salwa Judum movement Mahendra Karma were performed with state honours at his native village in Dantewada district today. Karma’s son Chhavindra along with his four brothers lit the funeral pyre. Union Minister of State for Home R P N Singh and Congress MP Mukul Wasnik were present at the funeral. Right from the morning, people from the region began visiting Faraspal village to have last glimpse of Karma, who was popularly known as ‘Bastar Tiger’. [caption id=“attachment_820619” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A file photo of Mahendra Karma. AFP[/caption] Amidst the presence of thousands of people, Karma’s funeral procession began. People were angry as Chief Minister Raman Singh did not attended the funeral. They raised slogans against the BJP-led state government and demanded President’s rule in Chhattisgarh. Karma was among the 27 people killed when heavily armed Maoists ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders in Bastar district on Saturday. 32 others were injured in the deadly attack. PTI