In an incident that is bound to attract controversy, no official representing the Kerala government was present while the body of Siachen avalanche victim Lance Naik B. Sudheesh of Kollam was brought to the Army area in Delhi on Monday.

While officials of the other states were present when the bodies of jawans were brought from Leh to Delhi, Kerala government’s absence has been criticized as disrespect to the  martyr.

An officer at Delhi Kerala House told Deccan Chronicle that that the presence of state government officials during the transit of bodies  was not needed as the state was  formally receiving the jawan’s body in Thiruvananthapuram. 

“This was the case on earlier occasions also, ” the liaison officer of Kerala House in Delhi told DC.

The Jawan’s body will be received in Thiruvananthapuram airport by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and other officials.

Sudheesh’s funeral will be held on Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 pm, with state honours, after letting the public pay homage to the soldier.