Laying the missile man Abdul Kalam to rest gives some anxious moments to those at his hometown Rameswaram

CHENNAI: A grief-stricken family of the deceased former President APJ Abdul Kalam, had to deal with some anxious moments after initial speculations that Kalam may not be laid to rest at his birthplace in Ramanathapuram district. But after assurances from officials in New Delhi this morning, the family is now relieved that the mortal remains of Kalam will be brought home by Wednesday noon and laid to rest there.

Late Dr Kalam’s elder brother’s grandson, 34-year old APJMJ Sheikh Salim told ET "We had appealed to the government through local media crews here that there should be no second thoughts about bringing the body or laying the body to rest here in Rameswaram."

"The eldest brother of Dr Kalam is 99 years old and it would be very difficult for him to travel to New Delhi if the last rites were to be performed there. Also Dr Kalam’s closest relatives are about 150 people in number and taking them all from here to New Delhi or anywhere else would not have been practical. So we appealed and the government agreed," Salim said.

The relatives have been assured by the Home department in New Delhi that the body of Dr Kalam will reach Rameswaram by around 12 noon and the last rites will be performed at his hometown.

This has now put the pressure on local district authorities as they will now have to make security and logistical arrangements for the VVIP movement intoto and back from this tiny coastal town.

Sources said that the Superintendent of Police had been scouting for the right venue for the event since last night and has been discussing various spots with the district authorities.

"Finalising the venue is currently an ongoing process. We are collecting details from various spots and by this evening we will finalise the venue," Ramanathapuram Superintent of Police NM Mylvahanan told ET.

Sources in the district said that the authorities are worried that if a memorial were to be erected in the place where the Dr Kalam was to be laid to rest, then the coastal district may find it very difficult to handle the crowds and the steady stream of VVIPs visiting here.

"There is only one road to enter any of the sites that are being looked at now and VVIPs visiting here will have to return the same way. This is not an ideal situation for VVIP security arrangements. But owing the wishes of the family and the local admirers of Dr Kalam here the authorities may have to choose the best option they can come up with," said a source in the district who did not wish to be named.

Kalam’s family members say that most of the youth that Kalam had inspired in Tamil Nadu would want to pay their last respects to him in his hometown.

"Dr Kalam has inspired many youths across the state and they all want to see him laid to rest here and not anywhere else. We have been assured that his mortal remains will reach our village by tomorrow noon and many people from across the state will reach here by then,” Salim added.