Rediff

New Delhi, Sep 20: Delhi Police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who died battling terrorists during an encounter, was on Saturday cremated with full state honours after a tearful adieu.

The mortal remains of 41-year old Sharma, considered an encounter specialist and posted with elite anti-terror squad Special Cell, were consigned to flames after the Delhi Police contingent paid him a three-gun salute.

The body, draped in a Delhi Police flag, was brought to the Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi with 12 personnel escorting it amid chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and M C Sharma Amar Rahe.

A number of political leaders, including Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani as well as Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna attended the funeral.

Among others present were Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, Delhi Commissioner of Police Y S Dadwal and former CPs Ajai Raj Sharma and K K Paul.

All the dignitaries placed wreaths on the body of the departed officer.

Sharma was a highly decorated officer with seven gallantry medals to his credit, including President's Medal for Gallantry.

Sharma served the city police for 19 years before falling to the bullet of heavily armed terrorists in a fierce gunbattle at a house in south Delhi on Friday.

The funeral pyre was lit by Sharma's cousin.

Earlier, the slain inspector's sister Gangotri said at his residence in Dwarka that the inspector could have been saved had he worn a bullet proof jacket.

His son, who had been admitted to a hospital with Dengue was informed of his father's demise only on Saturday morning.

"The family had in fact kept the TVs in the house unplugged," she said.

During his meritorious service, Sharma was instrumental in the killing of 35 terrorists and the arrest of another 80 terrorists.

At least 40 inter-state gangsters also fell prey to the bullets of Sharma who was part of a team which meant terror for criminals. He also arrested another 129 gangsters.

Sharma, after a tip off, led a team of Special Cell to a house in Jamia Nagar in south Delhi on Friday to nab five terrorists. But the terrorists fired at the police squad injuring Sharma, who was in the front. He sustained bullet injuries in abdomen, thigh and right arm.

A surgery could not save him and he succumbed to his injuries after battling for life for about seven hours.