Bathinda village bids adieu to sepoy martyred in Kupwara

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 8

The body of Sepoy Sukhwinder Singh (26), who was killed in an attack in the Keran sector of Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, was cremated with military and state honours at his native village Hakamsinghwala on Friday.

The martyr’s body was kept in Bathinda Cantonment after it reached here on Friday morning and then taken to his native village. Power Minister and Rampura MLA Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Rampura SDM and police and other officials paid tributes to the martyr at his village. Army jawans presented a guard of honour to the martyr at the village.

Hundreds of people, who poured in from different parts of the district, gave a tearful adieu to the slain soldier.

Earlier, Sukhwinder’s coffin, draped in the Tricolour, was brought to his home in the presence of senior Army officials, who paid floral tributes to him.

After the “antim ardas”, a contingent of the Army reversed their arms and fired gunshots in the air as a mark of respect to the martyr.

The gallant soldier laid down his life after he sustained bullet injuries during the attack while on a patrol ahead of the fence on the Line of Control in the Keran sector of Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.

Sukhwinder Singh had joined the Army in 2012. He had gone back to duty on May 18 after leave. He is survived by his parents and two brothers. A pall of gloom descended on village after the news of his death reached here on Thursday.

Naib Singh, father of the deceased, said he was proud of his son, who laid down his life for his country.

Gurpreet Singh Kangar said, “It is very sad that everyday our brave soldiers are being killing at the borders. I fail to understand what our government is doing and where is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 56 inch chest now.”

Kangar said he would meet Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in a few days and compensation to the family would be announced.