New Delhi: Commander Kuntal Wadhwa, the Indian Navy officer who died after inhaling carbon dioxide during tests on board the under-construction warship INS Kolkata, was on Saturday denied military honours, his family members said.
Navy officers tried to "suppress" the ceremonies to "minimize" attention, according to a newspaper report.
However, an official Navy source from Mumbai insisted that "full military honours were accorded" to Com Wadhwa.
The source pointed out that the wreath-laying ceremony was attended by Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Flag Officer commanding-in-chief and officers of the command and that full honours were given at the cremation. "We have received no complaints from anybody," he insisted.
Instructions were also given to conduct shok shastra (paying of respects) in a shed near the mortuary instead of the foyer of INHS Asvini's auditorium.
The plan was reversed only after protests from Wadhwa's friends, sources said.
