Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, January 19

Havildar Baljinder Singh of Tanda’s village Jahura lost his life while on duty at Siachen glacier.

The deceased was cremated at his native village with military honours. Baljinder, son of the late Gurbachan Singh, was a Havildar (Sergeant) in the second Sikh Light Infantry.

The Army contingent paid their last salute to the deceased by firing bullets and reversing their weapons. Singh is survived by his mother Kunti Devi, wife Pardeep Kaur and four-year-old twin sons.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s political adviser Sangat Singh Gilzian, on behalf of the state government, announced a financial assistance of Rs12 lakh — Rs5 lakh to the family of the deceased, Rs5 lakh for a plot and Rs2 lakh to the mother of the deceased soldier — and a government job to one of the family members.

The cremation was attended by Gilzian, Hoshiarpur ADC Harpreet Singh Sudan, SDM Dasuya Jyoti Bala, Deputy Director of Defence Welfare Services Col Dalwinder Singh and Naib Tehsildar Onkar Singh.

CM condoles soldier’s martyrdom

Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday condoled the death of a Punjabi soldier, who had lost his life in line of duty at Siachen glacier in Ladakh district on Friday. Captain Amarinder expressed grief and extended his sympathies to the bereaved family of Havildar Baljinder Singh. “The eternal sacrifice of the valiant soldier at 19,000 ft altitude in harsh and cold conditions will be remembered by one and all,” a spokesperson said.