Kulgam villagers bid tearful farewell to Lance Naik Wani
INITIALLY A MILITANT, WANI HAD BECAME A COUNTERINSURGENT AFTER HE REALISED THE ‘FUTILITY OF VIOLENCE’
KULGAM(KASHMIR): Tears streamed down the faces of residents of Chak Ashmuji village Monday as they bid farewell to braveheart Lance Naik Nazir Ahmed Wani, who laid down his life during an encounter in South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday.
Draped in Tricolour, the body of the decorated soldier was taken to his native village Ashmuji in Kulgmam and handed over to family members.
Wani,38, was initially a militant and had became a counterinsurgent after he realised the futility of violence, a senior army officer accompanying the coffin said. “The family was fighting tears and they were honoured by the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Wani for the nation and peace for his state,” the officer said.
After the rituals, the body was taken for burial to a nearby graveyard where 500 to 600 villagers were present. A 21-gun salute was given when Wani’s body was lowered in the grave.
The village is surrounded by areas like Koinmooh, which are notorious for terrorist activities. The villagers had started gathering at his residence early Monday morning to mourn the death of their son, who began his career with 162 battalion of Territorial Army in 2004.
“He was a real braveheart and his enthusiastic participation in an anti-militancy operation had fetched him a Sena Medal in 2007 and again a bar to the Sena Medal this year on the eve of Independence Day,” the officer said.
He said Wani was an epitome of bravery as he continued his relentless pursuit against terrorism specifically in South Kashmir. Wani is survived by his wife and two children aged 20 and 18 years.
SOLDIER INJURED IN SNIPER FIRE ON LOC
SRINAGAR : An Indian soldier was injured on Monday in sniper fire from Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Police sources said the incident occurred in Machil sector.
“The injured soldier has been shifted to a hospital,” an official said.