Sanjha Morcha

Martyrs cremated with state honours

Martyrs cremated with state honours

Family members pay tributes to Naib Subedar Mandeep Singh at Seel village near Ghanaur in Patiala. Tribune photos

Tribune News Service

Patiala/Gurdaspur, June 18

The body of Naib Subedar Mandeep Singh, who was killed during a face-off with Chinese troops at Galwan valley in Ladakh, was cremated with honours this evening. His family members, villagers and district officials bid adieu to the martyr at Seel village in Ghanaur block.

Despite the Covid-related restrictions, hundreds of people gathered at the village cremation ground to pay tributes to the soldier.

Residents recounted that many men from the village had served the armed forces. Ramandeep Kaur, wife of a former Army man, said she came from the family of soldiers. “My father served in the Army and so did my brother. Now my husband has retired from the service. My only son too wants to serve the nation. There are many such families in the village.”

Captain Narinder Singh, who served with Mandeep Singh for over 18 years, said Mandeep was courageous, honest and loyal. “He had all the qualities of an ideal soldier and we are proud of him. He belongs to a village that has sent many youths to the armed forces,” he said, adding that the compensation given to the family should be at least Rs 50 lakh.

Various political leaders, including Cabinet Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Ghanaur MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur and Sanaur MLA Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra, also paid their respects. At Bhojpur village in Gurdaspur, the mortal remains of Army man Satnam Singh (41) were consigned to flames.

The martyr’s body was airlifted from Leh to Chandigarh this morning. Later, a military chopper transported it till Tibri cantonment from where it was brought to the cremation ground in a cavalcade of Army vehicles.

The district administration ensured that the gathering was limited to 50. The pyre was lit by martyr’s son Parbhjot Singh. Contingents from the Army and the Punjab Police reversed their arms and fired shots in the air as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who attended the cremation as a representative of the state, assured the deceased’s kin that besides a job to one family member, the government would soon release the ex gratia grant.

“The district administration has been instructed to construct a memorial gate on one of the roads leading to the village,” he said.


Gathering limited in Gurdaspur

  • At Bhojpur village in Gurdaspur, the mortal remains of Army man Satnam Singh (41) were consigned to flames
  • The martyr’s body was airlifted from Leh to Chandigarh on Thursday morning
  • The district administration ensured that the gathering was limited to 50. The pyre was lit by martyr’s son Parbhjot Singh

Admiring his courage

Mandeep was courageous, honest and loyal. He had all the qualities of an ideal soldier and we are proud of him. He belongs to a village that has sent many youths to the armed forces.— Capt Narinder Singh, Ex-serviceman