Mandeep Singh was killed in an encounter near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
Highlights
- Mandeep died in attack along LoC, body mutilated by terrorists
- Family says proud of his service, Pak should be given fitting reply
- Army vowed revenge, destroyed 4 Pak posts causing heavy casualties
Martyred soldier Mandeep Singh's village in Haryana will be in the dark today. There will be no festive dias (lamps). Instead, it witnessed the funeral of a favourite son, who lost his life fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mandeep Singh's last rites were conducted with full military honours. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, senior army officers, officials from the district administration were present on the occasion.
Mandeep Singh had meant to come home for Diwali. But his leaves were cancelled and his body reached his village Antedi this morning.
The 27-year-old had died in an attack in Machil sector, near the Line of Control, on Friday. The terrorists had mutilated his body before crossing into Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir under the cover of firing provided by the Pakistan army. One terrorist was killed in the attack..
Mandeep Singh's body was taken to his village for last rites.
"He died in the line of his duty, but Pakistan should be given a fitting reply," said his father Phool Singh.
Mr Singh's wife Prerna, who works with the Haryana Police, said none in the family knew that he had been posted near the Line of Control. He had just told a brother, who is an ex-armyman.
"We are very proud of his work. The last drop of his blood went to the service of the country," his brother Sandeep Singh said.
Mandeep Singh served in Sikh regiment which he had joined in 2008 and was currently posted with the 17 Rashtriya Rifles.
Since morning, senior army and administration officials and villagers streamed into the family home to pay their respects.
The family is proud of his service, said Mandeep Singh's brother Sandeep.
The army, which had vowed revenge, announced on Saturday that four Pakistani posts had been destroyed and heavy casualties had been inflicted in its response to the ongoing aggression.
Areas near the border have been on high alert because of a spurt in firing from Pakistan after Indian soldiers crossed the Line of Control last month and destroyed launch pads areas for terrorists who, the army said, were getting ready to enter India to carry out a series of attacks.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, "I want to assure the nation that the security forces are giving befitting reply to the firing from Pakistan. We will not bow down before anyone."