Karnal soldier cremated with state honours in his native village
The mortal remains of army jawan Baljeet Singh, who was killed in an encounter with militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday, were consigned to flames with full state honours at Dinger Majra village of Karnal on Wednesday.
Baljeet’s three-year-old son, Arnav, lit the pyre with his grandfather Kishan Chand, 75,. The 35-year-old soldier of the 50 Rashtriya Rifles was the sole breadwinner of his family. His widow, Aruna, who was inconsolable, said, “The nation has lost one of its soldiers but we have lost everything. How will I feed my children?”
According to Aruna, Baljeet had made a phone call to her on Monday night and promised to return early next month to attend the marriage of his nephew. “My children are asking me about their father. How will I tell them about his death,” she said.
Baljeet’s father Kishan Chand praised the courage of his son saying, “Such people never die. He would live in the hearts of lakhs of people of this country for whom he sacrificed his life.” He added the government was doing a good job by allowing the army to kill militants but said more powers should be given to the army and more steps be taken to avoid the killing of our soldiers.
Baljeet is the second braveheart from Dinger Majra village who lost his life while serving in the Army. Earlier, Manoj Kumar of this village was also martyred in 2010. Manjeet Singh, a childhood friend of Baljeet, said, “Joining the army is the top priority of the youths of our village and at present, about 50 people from our village are serving the Indian Army.” Even, Baljeet’s cousin Surjit Singh and nephew Ankit are posted in the Jammu and Kashmir
Local MLA and Hafed chairman Harvinder Kalyan, who also reached the village to pay his last respects, announced a financial assistance of ₹50 lakh and other facilities as per the government policy for the family. He said he will bear the expenses of the education of Baljeet’s daughter and son and would provide all assistance to his family. On the demand of government job for martyr’s widow, he said he would take up the issue with chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar.