Kangra village bids tearful adieu to its braveheart
Rait village in Kangra district bade a tearful adieu to havildar Jorabar Singh who was martyred in an encounter with terrorists in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Wednesday.
The 44-year-old braveheart’s body was brought to his village for the final journey on Thursday.
Singh's body, covered with the tricolour, was taken by pall bearers on Friday morning to the village crematorium, where he was cremated with full state and military honours in the presence of administrative officials and politicians, including urban development minister and local MLA Sarween Chaudhary, Shahpur sub-divisional magistrate Jagan Thakur and deputy superitendent of police (DSP) Megh Nath, who laid the wreath on behalf of state government.
In an emotionally charged atmosphere, slogans like Hindustan zindabad (Long Live India), and Pakistan murdabad rent the air.
Funeral guard from the Gorkha Regiment contingent gave three-volley-salute to the fallen solider, whose six-yearold son Rudransh lit the pyre.
Singh is survived by his parents, wife Sarnjana Kumari, two daughters Hritika,14, Kritika,12, and a son. His father Raj Singh, who retired as subedar from Indian Army, said that Jorabar came home in February for a fortnight.
He was earlier posted at Jalandhar and was transferred to Jammu & Kashmir in December last year.
Singh joined 3 JAK Rifles in 1993 and was currently posted with 160th infantry battalion of the territorial army.
“He called the family on Wednesday afternoon and said he has just returned from the operation. However, he was called back again after reports of more terrorists hiding in the forest came,” the grieving father said, adding, “In the evening, I was just telling my wife about sacrifices made by soldiers in Kupwara when we got a call that our son too was among the martyrs.”
“I am proud of my son. He took bullets on his chest,” Raj Singh said fighting back his tears.