Parvesh Sharma
Tribune News Service
Tolawal (Sangrur), June 19

Amid slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, the mortal remains of Army Sepoy Gurbinder Singh (22), who attained martyrdom on the Indo-China border in Galwan Valley, were consigned to flames on Friday evening at his native village Tolawal.

Hundreds of area residents joined hands to salute the supreme sacrifice of the martyr.

Earlier emotions ran high when the coffin carrying the body of the martyr reached the village in an Army vehicle.

Apart from raising slogans, residents also condemned the Chinese army.

The family members, who were planning for his marriage during his next vacation and got him engaged around eight months back, were inconsolable and heart-wrenching scenes were witnessed.

“We wanted him to come home, but not in a coffin. We are proud of my brother,” said Gurpreet Singh, elder brother of the martyr while his father, Labh Singh, was unable to speak.

Punjab Education and PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla, former Punjab Finance Minister  Parminder Dhindsa, Sunam MLA Aman Arora ,  BJP national vice president Avinash Rai Khanna, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sangrur Ramvir, SSP Dr Sandeep Garg, Sunam Congress Halqa Incharge Daman Thind Bajwa, Sangrur BJP president Randeep Deol  along with other prominent personalities of area attended the cremation.

“We have issued notifications to name the government schools of all four villages of martyrs under their names. The construction of sports complexes in the native villages of all four martyrs is also under consideration. Apart from it, our government would help all families of martyrs in a best possible way,” said Singla.

Earlier Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal also visited the family of  the martyr.

He urged Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh not to play politics on such a sensitive issue. He said the country’s generals were well aware of what needed to be done in the present situation and no one should advise them on the best course of action.