People jostle to pay their last respects to a martyr of the Chhattisgarh Naxalite massacre. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, July 1: The spouse of a martyr, killed in the Chhattisgarh Naxalite massacre, does not want her CRPF sepoy son to replicate his father’s deeds and attain martyrdom.

The sleepy Bharigola village here slipped into mourning as the body of the slain CRPF man was consigned to flames with the state’s guard of honour.

As the CRPF van carrying the body traversed through the dusty lanes, almost the entire village turned up to pay homage to the son of the soil.

Forty nine-year-old Bidyadhar Barik, the CRPF sub inspector killed in the Chattisgarh massacre, was a native of the riverside village.

For the bereaved family of Bidyadhar Barik, the tragedy has left everybody shell shocked. In an ironic providence, the lone son of the martyr is now at the horrifying Bastar battle zone engaged in a combing operation. Bidhu Bhusan Barik (23) is posted as Jawan in Bastar’s killing fields.

“My husband is dead. No mother would want to see his son meet the same fate,” said martyr’s widow Baijayanti Barik, while crying inconsolably. With his felled body, my son should come back flesh and blood. We can no more endure any harm to him. This is the appeal of a widow.

Please relieve my son from this dangerous job, she sobbed and said. On Monday evening, we had our last conversation. He told me that he was in combing operation and asked me not to worry for him and for Bidhu. He had promised me of his return next month. But God had something else in mind otherwise, she bemoaned. “I am proud of my father. I am ready to fight for country. Martyr’s son Bidhubhusan said.

“Forty nine-year-old Bidyadhar Barik, a sub inspector of the CRPF, fell to the Naxalites’ bullets in Bastar area of Chhattisgarh,” said Kendrapara superintendent of police Narasingh Bhol.