Patriotic slogans filled the air Saturday as thousands of Indians attended the cremations of policemen and elite commandos who died battling terrorists in Mumbai, reported dpa.
Men, women and students paid last respects to National Security Guard (NSG) commandos Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Gajender Singh, and Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare.
Relatives, friends and hundreds of other Bangalore residents bid tearful farewells to 31-year-old Unnikrishnan, who was killed while pursuing terrorists at Mumbai's Taj hotel.
The body of the slain commando was draped in the national tricolour, as emotional crowds chanted slogans praising him as a national hero.
In Mumbai, several senior ministers and officials attended the funeral of Karkare.
Crowds estimated at 5,000 lined the roads as Karkare's body was taken to the Shivaji Park crematorium.
Karkare was killed leading the battle against the terrorists who attacked the city on Wednesday night.
In New Delhi, senior officers from the NSG, army and paramilitary forces paid tribute to Singh, who was killed in combat at Mumbai's Nariman House Jewish Centre.
NSG Director General JK Dutt said Singh sacrificed his life in the line of duty, the IANS news agency reported.
"He did not turn his back to the militants and created a way for other commandos despite a grenade thrown on him," Dutt said.