Every eye inside the Amra Kojon ground next to the Madhyamgram police station turned moist as the hearse carrying Amitava Mallik coffin drove in on Saturday afternoon. Friends, neighbours and relatives waited to pay their tributes to their parar chele since 10 in the morning.
Under a green canopy of trees, men and women crowded around the coffin of the 27-year-old sub-inspector. As a police officer handed his father the Indian tricolour folded neatly, the scrape of branches shifting in the breeze could be heard over quiet sobs and prayers.
A barrage of bullets erupted as police officers fired into the air, sending scores of empty shells clinking to the ground where Amitava once played football as a student.
"There is nothing sadder for a father than to see his son in a coffin. I had promised that I will not cry but I find it difficult to control my tears," said Soumen Mitra even as he was helped by two officers to lay a wreath on his son's coffin.
Amitava died in a gun-battle with GJM cadres near the Bengal-Sikkim border late on Thursday night. He had joined the police force in 2014 and was posted at Darjeeling Sadar police station since 2015. He was cremated in Kolkata on Saturday with full state honours. Top police officers of the state including Surajit Kar Purakayastha, the director general of police were in attendance.
Amitava's wife Mona arrived in the same hearse and was inconsolable. She wrapped herself around the coffin and would not let go of it.
Younger brother Arunava said that Amitava and Mona were to go for their honeymoon during winter. "Dada could not go out anywhere after his wedding in March because of the situation in Darjeeling. He had promised boudi that they will go in the winter."
So many attended Amitava's last journey that people were spilling from under construction buildings and terraces. The entire carriageway from Madhyamgram crossing to his residence in Sarat Kanan was teeming with people. Many had been waiting from as early as 10am.
"He was the first boy from our neighbourhood to work for the police. Parents would give his example to their children and encourage them to study," said Pijush Ghosh, a neighbour.
Amitava, always a topper in school and college, joined the police force in 2014 and was posted in Darjeeling Sadar police station in early 2015. The electrical engineer from Burdwan University cracked many competitive exams and could have opted for a `safe' job in the banking or insurance sectors.
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