Miles away from his home in Kanyakumari, Constable Xavier sits at the CRPF Bantalab HQ in Jammu and stares at photographs of his children. These pictures are probably all he has, the tsunami has washed away his house.‘‘I am told only a three-feet-high piece of wall remains of what used to be my home. There are no signs of my family members,’’ says Xavier.Soon after the tsunami struck, the central forces had granted special leave to men from the affected areas. ‘‘At present, 14 CRPF personnel from Jammu and other areas have proceeded on leave,’’ says R.K Dua, DIG CRPF, Jammu Zone. Till yesterday, Constable Suresh from Kadloor was worried but today he received a call from his mother. ‘‘I am happy my parents are alive. This evening I will leave for Kadloor,’’ he says.Also from Kanyakumari, Head Constable Raj Kumar received a call yesterday from his family. ‘‘I pray that my other colleagues also get a similar phone call,’’ says Kumar.
