Industrial Training Institute to be Renamed after Lt Col Niranjan Kumar

The Industrial training institute (ITI) in Kerala was renamed by the Kerala Labour Ministry in honour of late NSG officer Lt Col EK Niranjan in his hometown Elambulassery in Palakkad. The 34 year old soldier became a martyr in the operation against terrorists at the Pathankot airbase on Sunday, 3rd January.

The Labour Minister Shibu Baby John announced this decision of renaming the institute in a press release just hours after the last rites of the martyr were performed in Palakkad on Tuesday Noon. The ITI in Elambulassery would now be known as Lt Col Niranjan Memorial Government ITI.

The minister stated,” This ITI opened in September last year and was called Elambulassery Government ITI. We decided to honour Niranjan, who laid down his life, and rename it in his memory.”

Thousands arrived at the home town of the brave officer who was cremated with full military honours on Tuesday. Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala along with senior officers of the NSG, among many others were present at the funeral.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and many other politicians paid homage to the slained soldier on Monday morning when his mortal remains were brought to his residence in Bengaluru. Late on Monday his mortal remains were brought to his hometown in Palakkad. Later in the day the Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Cabinet ministers K Babu and A P Anil Kumar arrived at the village and paid homage to the soldier.

Lt Col Niranjan is survived by his father Sivarajan, wife Radhika and two years old daughter Vismaya. The Karnataka government has announced a compensation of Rs 30 lakh to the next to the kin of the martyr. The Kerala government would decide on the compensation to his family in a meeting on Wednesday.