Army officer’s remains brought back from Nagaland after 24 years

Chakabama:Twenty-four years after he lost his life fighting insurgents in Nagaland, Second Lt E Thomas Joseph’s mortal remains were brought to his home town of Kanjiramatttom and laid to rest with full state and military honours in a church in Kottayam

The remains were taken in a procession to the Holy Cross Church on Friday and prayers were conducted by his family.

Joseph had died fighting Naga insurgents on June 12, 1992 and his body had been buried in a church at Chakabama in Nagaland.

Thanks to efforts by Joseph’s batchmates at the Indian Military Academy, his parents were able to travel to Nagaland and bring back their son’s remains to his home state.

His father Subdedar Major (Retd) A T Joseph and mother Rosamma Joseph were moist-eyed seeing the tricolour draped casket carrying the remains of their son, reported Indialive Today.

They kissed the casket, bidding him a final farewell.

Military officers were present at the church where the services were held.