Families bid farewell to bravehearts
FINAL TRIBUTE Villages mourn as army personnel killed in Pakistan ceasefire violation on Sunday are cremated with full military honours
GURGAON: The body of Captain Kapil Kundu who was killed in Pakistani shelling in Rajouri on Sunday was cremated with full military honours late Monday night in Ransika village in Pataudi near Gurgaon after the flight carrying his remains was delayed due to bad weather.
Drama unfolded through the day as his mother and two sisters waited anxiously for the body to arrive. According to family members, the body was initially expected to arrive in Ransika village, 33 kilometers from Gurgaon, by 3pm. But by sunset, it hadn’t.
After a day-long wait, Captain Kundu’s mother Sunita lost her cool and burst into tears when she was told that his remains may arrive only on Tuesday morning.
“I have lost a child. He died yesterday, it has already been 24 hours, why should I have to wait for another 24?” she said, before fainting.
Kundu’s eldest sister Soniya, had gone to the Palam airport in the morning itself to bring the body home but was told that the flight had been delayed because of bad weather, said relatives. Officials, however, refused to confirm the cause of the delay.
“I cannot comment on this, as the matter relates to the Ministry of Defence (MOD). However, I can confirm the last rites will take place on Monday itself,” said Vinay Pratap Singh, deputy commissioner of Gurgaon.
The family claimed that they were asked late evening if they would like to delay the cremation to Tuesday.
“Even after the plane took off, officials were asking us if we wanted to conduct his last rites today or delay it until tomorrow. We want to ensure all the ceremonies are conducted today because our mother is in very bad shape. We do not want her to endure this wait again until tomorrow. It will be easier on her if she gets closure in this regard today itself.” said Kajal, Captain Kundu’s older sister who was also the last person to speak to him, around 1pm on Sunday.
“We are aware that this would mean he will be cremated after dark, but our brother has died at such a young age…god has not been with us so far, so why should we worry about traditions and religion right now?” she said.
It was around 9:15 pm that the Captain’s body finally reached his village. Captain Kundu would have turned 23 on February 10.
Even as the cries of ‘Vande Matram’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ filled the air, his body was carried outside his home where his family got their last few minutes with him even as a large crowd watched on, shouting antiPakistani slogans from time to time.
Among those who came to pay their respect were deputy commissioner of Gurgaon Vinay Pratap Singh, Pataudi legislator Bimla Chaudhary, public works department (PWD) minister Rao Narbir Singh, Pataudi sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Vivek Kalia and Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda.