Adieu Major, you’ll be remembered

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, May 5

The mortal remains of Major Anuj Sood, who was killed in an encounter with terrorists in Kashmir on May 2, were consigned to the flames with full military honours here today.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Chief of the Army Staff, the GOC-in-C, Western Command, and the Colonel of the Brigade of The Guards.

A ceremonial guard from the Sikh Light Infantry reversed arms while buglers sounded the last post. A three-shot volley was also fired as a mark of respect to the fallen officer.

The funeral pyre was lit by his father Brig CK Sood (retd), a resident of Amravati Enclave in Panchkula. He had earlier told the media that the news of his son’s death left him shocked but at the same time he was proud of the supreme sacrifice made by him in the line of duty.

Major Sood belonged to 19 Guards and was posted with 31 Rashtriya Rifles in Kashmir when the encounter took place.

A large number of people, including family members and well-wishers, were present to bid adieu to the martyr.

Among those who paid tributes were Lt Gen Gurpal Singh Sangha, Chief of Staff, Western Command, Major Gen Balwinder Singh, Chief of Staff, 11 Corps, Brig Tejvir Singh Mundi, Station Commander, Chandimandir, Brig DS Kushwaha, Brigadier-in charge-Administration, Western Command, and Brig Upkar Singh, Commander, 37 Infantry Brigade. A number of officers from Chandimandir were also present.

Haryana Assembly Speaker and Panchkula MLA Gian Chand Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Ahuja and Commissioner of Police Saurabh Singh also paid their respects.

Major Sood was among four Army personnel, including the commanding officer of his battalion, and a local policeman who died in the encounter in Handwara in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday night. His body was flown to Chandigarh from Srinagar on Monday afternoon.

Born in December 1989, Major Sood is an alumnus of Punjab Public School, Nabha, where his father had also studied, before joining the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, in 2008.

Besides his parents — Brigadier Sood, who served with the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, and mother Suman, who is the principal of a government school in Yamunanagar — Major Sood is survived by his wife Akriti and two sisters, one of whom is a Captain in the Army and national-level shooter.