Laid to rest with full honours

Chandigarh, November 19

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The mortal remains of Brig Kuldip Singh Chandpuri were consigned to flames with full state and military honours on Monday.

A large number of relatives, military and civilian dignitaries, retired defence officers and residents were present to pay their final respects to the departed war hero.

While troops from the Punjab Regiment, to which Brig Chandpuri belonged, acted as pall-bearers, a ceremonial guard from the Punjab Police reversed arms and a bugler sounded the Last Post. A single-shot volley was also fired as a mark of respect. The funeral pyre was lit by his three sons.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Punjab Governor and the Chief Minister, Chief of Army Staff, Punjab Regiment Colonel, commanders of the formations involved in the Laungewala battle and the battalions in which Brig Chandpuri had served. Among those who paid floral tributes were Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher, GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lt Gen Surinder Singh; and Chief of Staff, Western Command, Lt Gen PM Bali. Representatives from the War Decorated India, ex-servicemen’s associations, Chandigarh Administration, Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and several other organisations with which he had been associated also paid tributes.

Brig Chandpuri, known for his heroic defence against overwhelming odds at Laungewala, a remote desert outpost in Jaisalmer sector during the 1971 war, had passed away at a local hospital on November 17. His actions have been immortalised in the 1997 Bollywood film ‘Border’. — TNS