Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh and his wife Namita Suhag console late Major Amit Deswal’s wife and father at Palam Airport in New Delhi on Friday. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

Jhajjar (Haryana), April 15

Mortal remains of Major Amit Deswal, who was killed on Wednesday in a gun battle with militants in Manipur, were consigned to flames on Friday with full military and state honours at his village in Haryana.

Deswal, who was from Surheti village of Jhajjar district, is survived by parents, wife and four-year-old son Arjun.

Major Deswal of the 21 Special Force of Rashtriya Rifles died fighting militants in Manipur’s Tamenglong district on April 13.

His body arrived on Friday at the technical area of Palam airport in Delhi, and after a wreath-laying ceremony, it was moved to the Major’s Surheti village.

It was a sad and proud last farewell for Major Deswal. Family members, relatives and hundreds of residents, including politicians, officials, social workers, said they were saddened by the death of young officer, but they were also proud of the braveheart’s “martyrdom”.

Full military honours and a gun salute were given to Major Deswal.

One of the military officers at the funeral said the braveheart breathed his last in the true traditions of a warrior.

Deswal was commissioned on June 10, 2006, into the Regiment of Artillery.

After basic service, Deswal recognised that his calling was somewhere more adventurous. He opted for the Special Group at first, but finally opted for the coveted Special Forces. — IANS