Among the 22 personnel killed in Saturday’s Maoist attack on security forces at Bijapur in Chhattisgarh were two jawans from Andhra Pradesh — Routhu Jagadeesh and Sakhamuri Murali Krishna.

The 27-year-old Jagadeesh had made plans to return home to Vizianagaram in a fortnight for his marriage on May 12. He died while attempting to save his superior in the attack. “Jagadeesh had joined CRPF seven years ago soon after completing his graduation.

After completing his training, he was inducted into the elite anti-Maoist Cobra unit.

When he came to Gajularega last Sankranti, his marriage was fixed with a girl from Dwarapudi ,” his relative Appa Rao said.

A pall of gloom descended on Gajularega and at Jagadeesh’s home in Kancheduvalasa in Makkuva mandal after the sad news reached his village. The family had migrated from Kancheduvalasa to Gajularega several years ago. Jagadeesh was the only son. His father is a agricultural labourer while his mother is a housewife. His younger sister got married a couple of years ago.

Jagadeesh’s family was busy with preparations for his wedding when they received the news. His cousin Mohan told TOI that Jagadeesh had informed his parents that he would come in a week or two.

“Marriage preparations were on in full swing with purchase of new clothes when we came to know of his supreme sacrifice. We have been unable to comfort his mother Ramanamma who has been weeping inconsolably,” he said.

Jagadeesh’s friends and relatives, who held a rally in Vizianagaram town in his memory, remember him as someone ready for a game of cricket whenever he had time.

He was also involved in social work. Vizianagaram SP B Rajakumari visited the deceased commando’s house and paid tributes.

The other jawan hailed from Gudipudi village of Sattenapalli mandal in Guntur district. Ironically, Murali Krishna (32) too was looking forward to his wedding which was being planned for May 22.

According to family sources, his father Sakhamuri Ravindra and his mother Vijayakumari were making preparations for the wedding when they received the phone call informing them about his demise. Like Jagadeesh, Krishna too was a member of the Cobra-210 unit.

Family members recollected his distinguished six years of service with CRPF and how Krishna was proud to be part of the Cobra battalion. His wedding had been planned for 2020 but was deferred due to Covid-19. Krishna is survived by his parents and a brother.

Meanwhile, chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy announced an ex-gratia of 30 lakh each to the families of the deceased jawans and offered his condolences to members of the bereaved families.

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