Tearful farewell to Circle Inspector C Jabir

MALAPPURAM: C. Jabir, 50,  former national football player and Circle Inspector of Malabar Special Police (MSP), who was killed in a road mishap on Sunday night, was given a tearful farewell by thousands  at his native place Therattammal, Areecode, on Monday. The accident  occurred   when his car collided with a truck on  NH 966 near Kondotty around 11 p.m.,  the police said. He was returning to Malappuram from Kozhikode after visiting a relative in a hospital. Jabir  died on the spot and his brother-in-law, who was with him,  escaped unhurt.

After the autopsy  at Manjeri  Government  Medical College, the body was brought to the MSP headquarters here on Monday and later taken to the Theratammal football stadium to enable his colleagues and public to pay their homage. Several footballers and Jabir’s co-players, including former Indian skipper I.M. Vijayan, Kurikesh Mathew and U.Sharafali were present.    Jabir is survived by his wife Naseera Jabir and three children.

The funeral was held at Therattamal Juma Masjid at 4 p.m.  A condolence  meeting  was also held there. Jabir  was one of the key midfielders of Kerala police team when they won the Federation Cup for the first time in 1990. Later, he was selected to the Kerala team and  played in six Santhosh Trophy tournaments, besides several international matches for India, including Nehru Cup of 1996. He was also active with the football training for the budding talents at Therattammal, his home turf.