Gloom descends on martyr’s village

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Goela Khurd (Panipat), Jan 17

A pall of gloom descended on Goela Khurd village as the news of Sepoy Sachin Sharma’s death spread. Sachin Sharma (20) of Rajputana Rifle, a resident of Goela Khurd village in Bapoli block, was martyred in Arunachal Pradesh near the India-China border on Tuesday.

His cousin Sandeep Sharma said Sachin was commissioned into the Army on December 12, 2016.

He was selected in the 16th battalion of Rajputana Regiment and completed his training at the Rajputana Regiment Headquarters in Fatehgarh of Uttar Pradesh.

The soldier was posted at Twang district of Arunachal Pradesh on November 16, 2017. He was to come home for two months from February 5 and his family had planned a ‘jagran’ too, Sandeep said.

Sachin played for the kabaddi team recently. Surender Sharma, father of the martyr, said he received a call on Tuesday that his son was no more. “They said he had sacrificed his life for the nation,” Sharma added.

As the news reached the village, villagers, relatives and locals gathered at his house. MP Ashwani Chopra too reached the martyr’s residence and extended condolences.

Deputy Commissioner Chander Shekhar Khare said the mortal remains of the martyr had reached Delhi and would be brought to the village tomorrow. “The last rites will be performed with full honours,” he said.

The braveheart is survived by his father Surender Sharma, mother Sumitra Devi, two sisters Ritu and Anju and younger brother Sahil.

Was to go on leave

• Sepoy Sachin Sharma was selected in the 16th battalion of Rajputana Regiment and completed his training   in Fatehgarh, UP.
• The soldier was posted at Twang district of Arunachal Pradesh on November 16, 2017. 
• He was to come home for two months from Feb 5