State bids adieu to its brave sons

Tribune News Service

Amritsar/ludhiana, October 6

Lance Naik Gurdev Singh (32) and Sepoy Surinder Singh (26) of 6th Rashtriya Rifles Battalion were cremated at their respective native villages with full state and military honours today. Both of them died fighting militants in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. Gurdev Singh was cremated at his native Boparai Bajsingh village, near Amritsar. Surinder Singh was cremated at his native Roriyan-Malaudh village in Ludhiana district.

As soon as Gurdev Singh’s mortal remains reached his native village around 3 pm in a military vehicle, people from all walks of life thronged his residence to bid tearful adieu. Wreaths were laid by a number of people, including Col RR Kotwal, Deputy Commander, 54 Infantry Dogra Brigade; Col CDS Sandial, Commanding Officer 12, J&K Rifle; Major Navneesh Grungh; Cap VK Solanki; Vir Singh Lopoke, Chairman, District Planning Committee; Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, former cabinet minister; Surinder Singh, Ajnala SDM; Gurnam Singh, ASP, Punjab police; and Capt Jaswant Singh, Field Officer, District Sainik Welfare, Amritsar.

The Lance Naik is survived by a daughter Avneet (4), son Lakshdeep (2), wife Rajbir Kaur, father Mehar Singh, brother Major Singh and sister Gurinder Kaur. The last rites were performed by the slain soldier’s father Mehar Singh. He said Gurdev served the Army for 13 years and was deputed in north Kashmir for the past two years.

Gurdev was the only breadwinner in the family and had spent vacation with the family around two months ago. “I am proud of my son who laid down his life for the sake of nation,” he added.

Village sarpanch Baljit Singh, panchayat member Davinder Singh and other natives of the village demand job for soldier’s wife Rajbir Kaur on compassionate grounds so that she could take care of her children and elder father-in-law.

Four jawans, including Gurdev, lost their lives in the gun battle with the militants during an operation launched in the Hafruda forest in Handwara yesterday.

Celebrations turn into mourning

At Surinder’s native village Malaudh in Ludhiana, heart-rending scenes were witnessed. The family that had been in a celebratory mood, looking forward to their son Surinder’s wedding, was now mourning his loss.

The martyr’s mother, Baljinder Kaur, said: “All of you were to come to our place to attend my son’s wedding. And you are here for his funeral.” “I could not have imagined in my worst nightmare that the family that had booked tent from me for their son’s wedding celebrations would be asking me to provide a tent for the same son’s last rites,” said a villager.

Surinder’s father Gurcharan Singh, distraught with grief, could barely talk.

A relative, fighting back tears, said the family had already started distributing the wedding cards. “Surinder’s wedding was scheduled on November 27. The family had so many happy occasions to look forward to – Surinder’s wedding and a new house that only required finishing touches. However, now their world has come crashing down.

Surinder’s body was placed in the new house that was to welcome Surinder and his bride,” he added. Surinder’s fiancé Rajpreet Kaur also arrived along with her relatives. — With inputs from Minna Zutshi & Mahesh Sharma