New Delhi: Mortal remains of Indian student Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar arrived at Bengaluru airport on Monday.
Naveen was killed in Russian shelling in Ukraine's Kharkiv on March 1 amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
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According to news agency ANI, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and family members of the deceased medical student were present at the airport along with state government officials.
The family members paid their last respects to the deceased followed by CM Bommai, who laid a wreath on the mortal remains.
The flight carrying the mortal remains of Naveen landed at Bengaluru airport at around 3:00 am, ANI reported.
The body was then taken to Naveen's native place, Chalageri village of Ranebennur taluk in Haveri district.
While addressing the media outside the airport, CM Basavaraj Bommai thanked the Union government for bringing back the mortal remains of Naveen, "I thank the Central Government for making efforts on bringing back the mortal remains of Naveen Shekharappa Gyangoudar, who was killed in a shelling attack in Ukraine. It's unfortunate that we lost him in the shelling."
Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, an MBBS student, hailed from Karnataka's Haveri district.
A fourth-year medical student in Kharkiv city, the 21-year-old was killed when he ventured out of his bunker to get some food, water, and exchange money.
The Karnataka Chief Minister handed over a cheque of Rs 25 lakh to the family of Naveen Shekharappa and promised a job for a family member.
Earlier, Naveen's father Shankarappa revealed that the family members have decided to donate their son's body for medical research.
"My son wanted to achieve something in the medical field, that didn't happen. At least his body can be used by other medical students for studies. That's why, we at home, have decided to donate his body for medical research," Naveen's father said, as quoted by ANI.