Tearful adieu to Lance Naik Vivek
Ravinder Sood
Palampur, December 11
A large number of people today bade a tearful adieu to Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, who was killed in the M-17 helicopter crash along with General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and others near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
The Lance Naik’s mortal remains were earlier brought to Gaggal airport by an Indian Air Force chopper from RR Hospital, New Delhi, after DNA matching of the family members. The body was then taken to his native village Upper Thheru in Jaisinghpur subdivision near Palampur in an Army vehicle. At Gaggal Airport, a large number of people gathered to pay their tributes to the Jawan.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur left the Assembly session midway and reached the Gaggal airport to receive the mortal remains of the Lance Naik. At the airport, he paid homage to the martyr and placed a wreath on behalf of the state government.
The Chief Minister said the state government had already sanctioned ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the bereaved family as immediate relief. If needed, more financial help would be extended to the family. After discussing the issue with the family members, state would also consider granting a government job to his wife. He categorically stated that government was morally bound to look after the families of martyrs, who had sacrificed their lives for the nation.
Chants of ‘Vivek Kumar Amar Rahe’ filled the air as the body, wrapped in Tricolour, reached his native village, where he was given a Guard of Honour by the state police and military Jawans. Leader of the Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri, Social Welfare Minister Surveen Chaudhry, and MLAs Dhani Ram Shandel, Ashish Butail, Arun Kukka and Mulakh Raj Premi also paid respects to Vivek Kumar.
Later, his mortal remains were consigned to flames with full state honours, in the presence of civil and Army officers.
Vivek (28) had joined the Army five years ago. He was attached with CDS Bipin Rawat for the past one and a half years. He is survived by his wife Priyanka, a six-month-old daughter, and parents Ramesh and Asha.
