Braving persistent drizzle, a large number of people, including women and children, gathered in Chingoli to have a last glimpse of slain Border Roads Organisation driver Maniappan R Kutty.

• Kutty's funeral on Friday evening

Shock and grief writ large on their faces, relatives, friends and people were seen discussing in small groups about the torture inflicted by Taliban on the BRO driver while waiting for his body to arrive for the last rites at Kutty's small house in Chingoli in Alappuzha district.

Days of despair have made his aged mother Maniamma and wife Bindu [Images] feeble and they still have not come to terms with the death of their beloved. "They have not taken any food after hearing the sad news and are in a semi-conscious state," a neighbour told PTI.

Earlier, Kutty's body was received with full state honours by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his Cabinet colleagues at Thiruvananthapuram airport.

The body would be placed at the Chooroli school where Kutty studied and Nangyarkulangar Junction school where his son is studying for the public to pay homage, before cremation in his house premises.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to name the Public Health Centre in Chingoli after Kutty. This was conveyed to the relatives by the chief minister.