Amid tears, war cries at Subathu Cantt
3 Gurkha soldiers, Giris Gurung, Damar Bahadur and Rabin Sharma, were killed on May 21
SHIMLA: Pall of gloom descended at the Indian Army’s Subathu cantonment when bodies of three Gurkha soldiers, who were martyred in a counter-insurgency operation in Nowgam sector of J&K’s Kupwara district, arrived from Chandimandir cantonment to be cremated at Subathu on Wednesday.
Silence that mourned the death of soldiers was only broken with Gurkha war cry “Jai Mahakali Aayo Gurkhali”, raised by locals, mostly from Gurkha community. Three Gurkha soldiers, Giris Gurung, Damar Bahadur and Rabin Sharma, were killed on May 21 in north Kashmir. The soldiers of 14 Gorkha Training Centre succumbed to the bullet injuries after a three-hour-long fierce gun battle. But before attaining martyrdom, they managed to kill four militants.
“Since his childhood, Rabin was very forthcoming. My brother was young, but I never expected that he would attain martyrdom so soon. He had got married recently. Anyhow, my brother laid down his life for Bharat Mata,” said Rajesh Sharma, brother of 23-year-old Rabin Sharma, with moist eyes.
“I believe Rabin will be born again,” Rajesh added.
Martyr Havaldar Giris Gurung, 38, who belonged to Nagidhar village in Kaski Nepal, is survived by his wife Panch Maya Gurung and two children. Another martyr Havaldar Damar Bahadur Pun, 40, who hailed from Karaing Tun village in Gulmi, is survived by wife Kalpana Pun and two children. Rifleman Rabin Sharma, who hailed from Chuwa village of Parbat district in Nepal, is survived by wife Sabita Sharma. These martyrs were from the 1st battalion of 4 Gorkha Rifles.
The army had arranged the transportation of family members of martyrs from Nepal.
Their families reached Subathu on Wednesday morning and cremation was performed around 2pm. Solan deputy commissioner Rakesh Kanwar said, “Bodies were transported by road from Chandimandir to Subathu and cremation was performed in the afternoon.”
Those present at the cremation were proud of the valour of martyrs.
Subathu suburb is in Solan district. The 4 Gorkha Rifles is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army comprising Gurkha soldiers of India and Nepal. It has five infantry battalions. The regiment was raised in 1857 as a part of the British Indian Army.