Jawan killed in Kashmir cremated

Rifleman Ravi Kumar, who died fighting Lashker-e-Toiba militants in the Kashmir valley, was given a tearful farewell amid a pall of gloom as thousands of people thronged his village in the border district of Samba for his cremation.
The soldier's body, wrapped in the Tricolour, was brought in an army vehicle here as thousands of people, including from neighbouring areas, paid their last respects to Kumar who was given a funeral with full state honours.
Kumar made the supreme sacrifice during yesterday's counter-insurgency operation in Bandipora in which an LeT terrorist commander was killed and three other soldiers, including a Major, also lost their lives.

The family members of the 33-year-old martyr were inconsolable.
Kumar left behind his wife Esha Devi and three-year-old daughter Rusani Ratta and his parents who wept bitterly.
People of Meensarkar Tabela village termed Kumar as a real "hero" and hailed him for making the hamlet proud across the country with his sacrifice.

J&K minister Chander Prakash Ganga received the mortal remains of the soldier who was accorded a guard of honour at the Jammu Airport. He also met family members of the jawan and consoled them.
Ganga said that the acts of bravery and sacrifice by the soldiers in protecting the borders and citizens of the nation cannot be described in words.

He assured that the government would look after the family members of the martyrs and provide them due support.