The mortal remains of two Indian soldiers, who were killed in an attack on a UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, were Monday consigned to flames with full state honours in their native villages in Haryana.
The body of Dharmesh Sangwan of 8 Rajputana Rifles was cremated in Kheri Battar village in Bhiwani district, 270 km from Chandigarh, while the remains of 46-year-old Subedar Kanwar Pal Singh of the Army Medical Corps were consigned to flames in Bhondsi village near Gurgaon.
Sangwan, 34, is survived by his wife and two children.
The two Indian soldiers were killed in the attack on the UN complex in South Sudan last week by rebel guerrillas.
A rowing champion, Sangwan had won medals at several international events. He was part of the Indian rowing team that won silver at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.
Hundreds of people turned out for the cremation. Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda, Bhiwani MP Shruti Chaudhry and Haryana minister Satpal Sangwan were present.
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Kanwar Pal Singh is survived by wife Asnee Lata, daughter Anjali (19) and son Kunal (13).
His father Kanhaiya Singh and mother Moorti Devi said they were proud of their son's martyrdom.