Army officials pay tributes to Sepoy Adwaita Nandi who was killed in Monday's militant attack in Srinagar
A 29-year-old solider from Bankura in West Bengal was given a final farewell by his family and the Indian Army today, three days after the young sepoy was shot dead by militants in Srinagar.
For his family, it was a double tragedy. The soldier's 20-year-old wife, unable to bear the loss, set herself ablaze and committed suicide. The final twist in the tragic tale: the soldier's brother enrolled in the Army on Monday, the day his 'dada' laid down his life for the country.
The last goodbye was said at Panchmura village for Sepoy Adwaita Nandi who had served in the 35 Rashtriya Rifles regiment for the last two years. Thousands of villagers turned out for the funeral as the Army bade farewell with a gun salute.
"I am very proud of him. He was my student, he was like my son. He has given his life for the country, I am very proud. Not just me but thousands of others as well," said Shibshankar De, Adwaita's school teacher.
The tragedy of Adwaita's death was compounded by yet another: the death of his wife Piu. Married for a year and a half, Piu couldn't bear the loss of her husband and, on Tuesday, set herself ablaze. She was rushed to hospital but did not survive. She was cremated alongside her husband's funeral pyre.
Even the toughest soldier was moved.
"The calamity that has happened at home, his wife also having committed suicide yesterday. But at no cost well we lose touch with his father and her parents," said Major General Harsha Kakar, Chief of Staff Bengal area.
Adwaita is survived by an ailing father and a frail grandmother. Adwaita also has a younger brother, Asim. It is perhaps an irony of fate that Asim joined the Army at Jabalpur on Monday, the very day his beloved 'dada' lost his life in the line of duty to the nation.
Asim could not reach Bankura in time for his brother's funeral. He is expected to reach on Friday.