MANDYA: After news of H Guru's death spread late on Thursday, a pall of gloom descended on Gudigeri Colony in KM Doddi, Maddur taluk, the hometown of the Central Reserve Police Force jawan, who was killed along with dozens of others in a terrorist strike in Kashmir's Pulwama.Guru had just returned to Kashmir following a break, and had reached the force's headquarters on Sunday. He and the other paramilitaries were on their way to camp on Thursday when the bomber struck.His family has been inconsolable since. His father Honnaiah, mother Chikkatayamma, wife Kalavati and brothers Madhu and Anand are in shock, while neighbours, relatives and childhood friends have been mourning the death of their beloved Guru.Guru was the first youth from the colony to join the paramilitary force. Like his family, the residents of the colony were proud of him. Those who knew Guru say he had nurtured a strong desire to serve the nation from his childhood days. The first step was achieved when he joined the CRPF in 2011 and was posted in Jharkhand.Latha, who taught Guru Hindi in primary school, said, "I am proud to have been his teacher and I will never forget the sacrifice he has made. Right from his school days, he had a healthy dose of patriotism in his blood."Even then, he had wished to join the Army and serve the nation. Every time I asked him what he would like to become, he used to say 'I will become a soldier and serve the nation.' That was his life's desire."Guru had married Kalavathi, daughter of his mother's brother, only nine months ago. Recently, he obtained a loan from a bank and built a small house. Relatives say he did all he could for his family including his two younger brothers. Guru's father Honnaiah runs a small laundry shop in KM Doddi. Kalavathi has been distraught and blamed the politicians' negligence for her husband's death.Relatives, neighbours, friends, acquaintances and government officials have been making a beeline to the trooper's home since Thursday night. Deputy commissioner N Manjushree and Maddur tahsildar V Geeta met bereaved family members on Friday and offered their condolences. LR Shivaramegowda, Mandya MP, also visited the bereaved family. He blamed the attack on the convoy on the failure of the intelligence department.A team of doctors from Mandya Medical College (MIMS) have been monitoring the health of Guru's family, especially Honnaiah, who has taken the death hard. An ambulance has been stationed at the village as a precautionary measure.

Stay updated with all the Bangalore Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.