Kerala IAF pilot's dad yet to hear from President, PM

Thiruvananthapuram: Mr  V. P. Sahadevan, father of flight-lieutenant S. Achu Dev, 26,  is still waiting for a reply from the President, Prime Minister and union defence minister's office to his letter  regarding his son's death in the Sukhoi- 30 air crash in Assam on May 23. He had alleged that the coffin of Achu Dev was empty when it was brought to Thiruvananthapuram by the IAF officials. He had sent the letter with the help of Attingal MP A. Sampath, who may now raise the issue in Parliament when its monsoon session starts on  July 18.

Achu Dev along with squadron leader Divesh Pankaj was killed  at Tezpur in Assam close to the Chinese border when they were on a routine training and surveillance mission.

Mr Sahadevan,  retired engineer of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre,  had also alleged a bid to hide something as they were told by the accompanying Air Force officials that the coffin was empty. The parents said that till  they get strong evidence,  it was  difficult for them to believe that their son is dead. They are also worried about the  delay in the  court of inquiry.

State Youth Commission chairperson Chintha Jerome too had sought the central government’s intervention to find out the  causes behind the crash of Sukhoi-30. Earlier, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPM secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala had also sought the centre’s intervention in the matter.