Sangrur martyr cremated without guard of honour

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, April 20

Resentment prevailed among residents of the district’s Kanakwal Bhangua village today when Army failed to give guard of honour to sepoy Ravinder Singh (20), who lost his life after being hit by a sniper bullet fired by Pakistani troops in Poonch on Tuesday evening, during his cremation.

“The Army must have made arrangements for the guard of honour and the bugler to play the national anthem during the cremation. He died with the bullet of an enemy and his body came wrapped in Tricolour. I am surprised that the Army authorities in Sangrur failed to give the guard of honour to its martyr. We will take up the matter with the higher authorities of the Army,” said Capt Gurdas Singh (retd) of Kanakwal Bhagua village.

Ravinder was cremated today morning in the presence of Sunam Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) Rajdeep Brar, Dirba DSP Jasveer Singh, Defense Welfare Services Deputy Director Wing Commander Rajwant Singh (retd) and officers from 21 Punjab D-Coy unit.

“Army should have made required arrangements. I went to attend cremation without any written information after reading in an English daily,” said Rajwant Singh.

The martyr’s father, Balkar Singh, said Ravinder was the third-generation soldier of the family and they were proud of him that he sacrificed his life for the country. “But the Army’s failure in making the required arrangements has hurt all villagers. He should have been cremated with the honour he deserved,” he added.

The Army authorities here confirmed they did not make arrangements for the guard of honour and the bugler. “We did not make arrangements for the guard of honour, as we have still not received information about Ravinder’s death from his unit. Otherwise, there was no reason to deny our martyr the due respect,” an officer said.