General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt-Gen K. J. Singh paying his last respects to the soldiers of 6 Dogra Infantry Regiment killed in the recent ambush in Manipur after the bodies were brought to Chandigarh on Saturday en route to Himachal Pradesh.- Photo: Akhilesh Kumar
Himachal to give financial aid of 5 lakh each to the family of seven soldiers
All seven soldiers of the 6 Dogra Regiment from Himachal who were killed in the Manipur ambush on Thursday were cremated with state and military honours in their respective villages on Sunday.
People from all walks of life attended the last rites and paid their tributes to the martyrs -- Havladar Prakash Chand, Sepoy Manoj Kumar, Sepoy Vikas Bhardwaj, Havladar Rajesh Kumar, Naib Subedar Rajneesh Singh, Naib Subedar Ashok Kumar and Sepoy Sohan Singh.
The bodies were brought to Chandigarh by a special plane last night and transported by road to villagers of the Jawans.
Himachal Social Welfare and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram received the bodies at Chandigarh and laid wreath on the coffins on behalf of the State government.
Social Justice and Sainik Welfare Minister Col. (retd.) D.R. Shandil attended the funeral of Sepoy Sohan Singh at his native village Manpur-Devra in Ponta Sahib of Sirmaur district.
The Minister, who accompanied the body from Chandigarh to his village, assured all possible assistance to his family members.
Col. Shandil, who had himself served in the Dogra Regiment, visited the house of Nayak Ashok Kumar of Dakasana village in Haripurdhar, also in Sirmaur district.
Another Minister Kaul Singh Thakur also attended the last rites of Havaldar Prakash Chand and Sepoy Manoj Kumar of Mandi.
A pall of gloom descended on Garili village of Kangra district as hundreds bid farewell to Naib Subedar Rajneesh Singh.
The 6 Dogra Infantry Regiment was to be moved to Chandigarh soon and the majority of soldiers who were recruited from Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir were excited to be moved nearer to their homes, said the family members. “But as luck would have it, only his body has come home,” said Baldev Rana, father of Ashok Kumar.
Meanwhile, the State government has announced a financial assistance of Rs.5 lakh each to the family members of the seven martyrs from the hill State.
Army officers pay tributes to the soldiers killed in Thursday's ambush in Manipur, in Jammu on Sunday. PTI Photo.