Army personnel salute Sepoy Sachin Sharma at the government school of Goela Khurd in Panipat on Thursday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Goela Khurd (Panipat), January 18Hundreds of people, Army officials and politicians bid a tearful adieu to Sepoy Sachin Sharma at his native village Goela Khurd of the district today. Sachin was laid to rest with full military and police honour. Sachin’s brother Sahil lit the pyre.Army personnel of Jat Regiment reached the village with Sachin’s mortal remains at 9 am and hundreds of villagers, school students were also present to salute their hero.The Army officials handed over the body of the martyr to his father and bid adieu at a government school of the village.Surender Sharma, father of the Martyr, Sachin, said, his son wanted to join the Indian Army since his childhood and after passing class XII he joined the Army on December 12, 2016. After completing his training at Fatehpur he joined his duty at Arunachal Pradesh.“Sachin always said that he would join The Army to save his country and would die for his country,” said his father with eyes filled with tears. His mother Sumitra Devi and sisters fainted after seeing Sachin’s body.His last rites were performed at a temple adjoining a government school. The Army personnel and police gave him a gun salute. People raised slogans such as ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Sachin Bhai Amar Rahe’.Subedar Ramesh Kumar, Rajputana Rifle, said, he was a good sepoy and a very good player also. He had joined his duty around two months back and was posted at Arunachal Tak Singh post in Upeer Subhan Singh district of Arunachal Pradesh.Besides, a team of 24 Army personnel led by Subedar Kamal Singh of Jat regiment reached to bid adieu to Sepoy Sachin Sharma.“Due to sudden illness, Sachin lost his life. Reports will further clear the reason behind his death,” said the Subedar.Mohit and Sonu, friends of Sachin said, he was a hard worker since his childhood. He practiced running barefoot on the Yamuna sand to enhance his stamina.Krishan Lal Panwar, Transport Minister, said, benefits would be provided to the bereaved family as per the government’s norms and policy.Ashok Tanwar, state president, Congress; Ravinder Machroli, MLA Samalkha; Sanajay Bhatia, BJP’s state general secretary; Bijender Kadyan, former minister; DC Chander Shekhar Khare; SP Rahul Sharma along with administrative officials and leaders of various political parties were present during the cremation.