Dehradun, the five Uttarakhand soldiers killed in a terrorist ambush on an army convoy in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, were cremated at their native places with full military honors in an emotionally charged atmosphere on Wednesday.
The quiet mountain villages from which they came erupted in loud wailing from their grieving relatives as their bodies were brought home in coffins draped in the national flag.
Not only the residents of their own villages, but also hundreds of residents of neighboring villages attended their funerals to bid a final farewell to the martyrs with great regret.
Heartbreaking videos of the parents and wives of the martyrs falling on the coffins carrying their mortal remains brought tears to anyone who saw them.
As soon as Havildar Kamal Singh's body reached his village, Naudanu, the loud screams of the women gathered in front of his house rent the air.
Havildar Kamal Singh, who was the sole breadwinner of the family, left behind his 92-year-old grandmother, his 72-year-old mother, his wife and his two daughters.
Bhagat Singh Negi, a villager, said that when Kamal was about four years old, his father died suddenly.
His father had a small store in the town and was also involved in agriculture. After the death of his father, the entire weight of the house fell on his mother and his grandmother. Her mother worked very hard and gave her an education despite being in poverty, Negi said.
Singh was cremated with full military honors on the banks of the Mandal River. The funeral pyre was lit by his uncle Kalyan Singh.
The Commander of Garhwal Rifles, Regiment Center Lansdowne, Vinod Singh Negi, paid tribute by laying a wreath on his body.
On behalf of the Prime Minister, Lansdowne MLA Dilip Rawat also paid tribute by laying a wreath.
Anuj Negi, another martyr from Pauri district, was also cremated near Tanda Mahadev Mandir on the banks of the Mandal river. His father Bharat Singh Negi lit his funeral pyre.
Similar scenes were witnessed at the house of Naib Subedar Anand Singh at Tanda in Ruydraprayag district, where his mortal remains were thrown into flames on Wednesday.
The villagers, who had gathered for the funerals, said the attack on the army convoy in Kathua was the work of Pakistan-backed terrorists who deserved to be taught a lesson.
It is time to take decisive action against the Pakistani perpetrators of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, they said.
The last rites of Lance Naik Vinod Singh, a resident of Chaund-Jaspur village of Tehri district, who was also martyred in Kathua, were also performed with full military and state honors at Poornanand Ghat, situated on the banks of river Ganga.
The last rites of martyred soldier Adarsh Negi, a resident of Dagar village of Kirtinagar block, were performed at Alaknanda Ghat situated in Maletha. Those attending his funeral raised slogans against Pakistan.
Earlier, the body of Garhwal Rifles soldier Vinod Singh was brought to his residence in Bhaniyawala. As a representative of the state government, cabinet minister Premchand Agarwal greeted the martyr and offered floral tributes.
Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal also paid tributes to the martyr. A large crowd gathered for the martyr's last journey.
Minister of State Premchand Agarwal seemed excited. He said this is a time of extreme pain for everyone in the state.
"This supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers against terrorism while protecting Maa Bharati will not go in vain," Agarwal said.
His father, retired soldier Veer Singh Bhandari, his mother Shashi Devi, his wife Neema and his entire family were crying inconsolably. They said his son sacrificed his life for the country and added that those who carried out the cowardly attack should be taught a lesson soon.
The quiet mountain villages from which they came erupted in loud wailing from their grieving relatives as their bodies were brought home in coffins draped in the national flag.
Not only the residents of their own villages, but also hundreds of residents of neighboring villages attended their funerals to bid a final farewell to the martyrs with great regret.
Heartbreaking videos of the parents and wives of the martyrs falling on the coffins carrying their mortal remains brought tears to anyone who saw them.
As soon as Havildar Kamal Singh's body reached his village, Naudanu, the loud screams of the women gathered in front of his house rent the air.
Havildar Kamal Singh, who was the sole breadwinner of the family, left behind his 92-year-old grandmother, his 72-year-old mother, his wife and his two daughters.
Bhagat Singh Negi, a villager, said that when Kamal was about four years old, his father died suddenly.
His father had a small store in the town and was also involved in agriculture. After the death of his father, the entire weight of the house fell on his mother and his grandmother. Her mother worked very hard and gave her an education despite being in poverty, Negi said.
Singh was cremated with full military honors on the banks of the Mandal River. The funeral pyre was lit by his uncle Kalyan Singh.
The Commander of Garhwal Rifles, Regiment Center Lansdowne, Vinod Singh Negi, paid tribute by laying a wreath on his body.
On behalf of the Prime Minister, Lansdowne MLA Dilip Rawat also paid tribute by laying a wreath.
Anuj Negi, another martyr from Pauri district, was also cremated near Tanda Mahadev Mandir on the banks of the Mandal river. His father Bharat Singh Negi lit his funeral pyre.
Similar scenes were witnessed at the house of Naib Subedar Anand Singh at Tanda in Ruydraprayag district, where his mortal remains were thrown into flames on Wednesday.
The villagers, who had gathered for the funerals, said the attack on the army convoy in Kathua was the work of Pakistan-backed terrorists who deserved to be taught a lesson.
It is time to take decisive action against the Pakistani perpetrators of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, they said.
The last rites of Lance Naik Vinod Singh, a resident of Chaund-Jaspur village of Tehri district, who was also martyred in Kathua, were also performed with full military and state honors at Poornanand Ghat, situated on the banks of river Ganga.
The last rites of martyred soldier Adarsh Negi, a resident of Dagar village of Kirtinagar block, were performed at Alaknanda Ghat situated in Maletha. Those attending his funeral raised slogans against Pakistan.
Earlier, the body of Garhwal Rifles soldier Vinod Singh was brought to his residence in Bhaniyawala. As a representative of the state government, cabinet minister Premchand Agarwal greeted the martyr and offered floral tributes.
Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal also paid tributes to the martyr. A large crowd gathered for the martyr's last journey.
Minister of State Premchand Agarwal seemed excited. He said this is a time of extreme pain for everyone in the state.
"This supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers against terrorism while protecting Maa Bharati will not go in vain," Agarwal said.
His father, retired soldier Veer Singh Bhandari, his mother Shashi Devi, his wife Neema and his entire family were crying inconsolably. They said his son sacrificed his life for the country and added that those who carried out the cowardly attack should be taught a lesson soon.
