Tearful adieu to CRPF men with full state honours
IN MOURNING Politicians, civil and paramilitary officials join the grieving family members as hundreds of people turn up for the last rites of six men killed from region
The last rites of six Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men from the region killed in the Pulwama terror attack on Thursday were performed with full state honours at their native towns and villages on Saturday. Similar scenes were seen at all places as ministers, legislators and administrative and paramilitary officials joined the family members and hundreds of people from surrounding areas to give a tearful adieu to the departed souls.
WIFE FALLS UNCONSCIOUS
As soon as the mortal remains of Sukhjinder Singh, 32, reached his home at Gandiwind Dhattal village in Tarn Taran’s Patti subdivision, his wife Sarabjit Kaur, 27, broke down and fell unconscious for some time.
Sukhjinder, who has left behind his wife, eight-month-old son, elderly parents and a brother, was recently promoted as a head constable.
Hundreds of people gathered to pay their tributes to the soldier, Union minister Vijay Goel and Punjab minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria among them. His father Gurmej Singh lit the pyre.
“The Government of India and the whole nation stands with the families of martyrs,” said Goel, while promising action against the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, villagers urged Sarkaria to construct a sports ground in Sukhjinder’s name in the village.
MEMORIAL ANNOUNCED
Slogans of “Shaheed Kulwinder Singh Amar Rahey” rent the air as the funeral procession of the 26-year-old proceeded towards the cremation ground at Rauli village near Nurpur Bedi in Rupnagar district.
Kulwinder’s father Darshan Singh performed his last rites, as Punjab assembly speaker Rana KP Singh, local MLA Amarjit Singh Sandoa and deputy commissioner Sumeet Jarangal paid their tributes. The speaker announced the construction of a memorial in his name.
Earlier, heart-rending scenes were witnessed when Kulwinder’s body was brought to his home. His fiancee, Amandeep Kaur, was also present there, still in a state of shock. Kulwinder had returned to his battalion in Jammu and Kashmir on February 10 after a 10-day leave.
Meanwhile, shops in the area remained shut in protest against the terror attack.
MANN FOR ₹1 CR RELIEF
The Tricolour-draped coffin of Jaimal Singh, 44, reached his house at Ghalauti village in Moga district in presence of civil and paramilitary officials in the morning.
Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal and his wife and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Aam Aadmi Party state president Bhagwant Mann called on the family to pay condolences.
Jaimal was driving the CRPF vehicle that was blown up after a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into it. His father Jaswant Singh and six-year-old son lit the pyre.
Mann promised to build a memorial in form of a library, gate or school in Jaimal’s memory while demanding at least ₹1 crore relief to the family.
Harsimrat Kaur slammed Pakistan for sheltering terrorists on its soil while Sukhbir said it’s high time to teach it a lesson.
ANTI-PAK SLOGANS RAISED
Union minister Vijay Sampla and Punjab transport minister Aruna Chaudhary were in attendance as Lakhbish Singh, a CRPF jawan posted in Assam, lit the pyre of his brother Maninder Singh, 30, at Dinanagar, 11 km from the district headquarters in Gurdaspur.
As his coffin wrapped in the Tricolour was being taken from his house to the cremation ground, a section of people even shouted anti-Pakistan slogans.
Maninder, an outstanding basketball player with an IT degree, had joined the CRPF under sports quota 15 months ago. He had also worked with an MNC before joining the CRPF.
‘SACRIFICE NOT IN VAIN’
People from all walks of life in Dhewa village of Kangra district paid tribute to Tilak Raj, 30. Tilak’s body was flown to Pathankot on Friday evening and reached his native village on Saturday morning.
Tilak, who is survived by his wife Savitri Devi, two sons and parents, was also a folk singer and a kabbadi player.
He has sung many hit songs in Gaddiyali — dialect of Gaddi tribe of the hill state. His younger son Vivan was born just 23 days ago. Union health minister JP Nadda arrived from Delhi while Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur flew from Shimla to pay tributes to him.
While consoling Tilak’s father Shri Layak Ram and other family members, the CM said Tilak laid down his life for the nation’s sake and assured the state government’s assistance. Meanwhile, Nadda said the sacrifice of CRPF men killed in the terror attack would not go in vain.
Tilak’s elder brother Baldev Singh, who lit the pyre, said: “My brother gave his life to a cause of the country and the family is proud of him.”
PALL OF GLOOM
Head constable Naseer Ahmed, 46, of Dodasan Bala village in Rajouri district had celebrated his birthday at the CRPF’s transit camp on Wednesday, a day before the terror attack. Just three days after the celebrations, amid a pall of gloom, his mortal remains were laid to rest with full military honours at his native village on Saturday.
Prominent among those who attended the burial were Union minister Jitendra Singh, MP Jugal Kishore Sharma and legislative assembly speaker Nirmal Singh. Rajouri district police chief Yougal Manhas said Naseer is survived by his wife Shazia Kousar and daughter Falak, 8, son Kashif, 6. His elder brother Siraj-ud-Din is a head constable in the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police.
“In a state of shock, his family and relatives in the village have only one question to those at the
helm of affairs: for how long will soldiers continue to be killed by terrorists,” said CRPF spokesperson Ashish Kumar Jha, quoting Siraj-ud-Din.
Meanwhile, Jitendra Singh asked the Rajouri deputy commissioner to set up a school after Naseer at his native place.