Amid slogans in his praise by thousands of emotional villagers and family members, the mortal remains of Army jawan Sandip Somnath Thok, who was martyred in the Uri terror attack, were consigned to flames at his native place here.
The body of 24-year-old Sandip, who is survived by parents, elder brother Yogesh and two married sisters, was yesterday brought to Ojhar Airport in Nashik district in an IAF plane from Srinagar and then taken to his native Khadangli village by road last night.
His parents, relatives and villagers broke down on seeing the valiant soldier's body.
A procession was also taken out in the village as state Rural Development Minister Dadaji Bhuse, District Collector Radhakrishnan B, Sub-Divisional Officer Mahesh Patil, Tehsildar Manoj Khairnar and others paid rich tributes to the martyr.
Sandip, whose father Somnath is an onion farmer, had joined the Army in 2014 after repeated attempts. Ten youths from the village are serving in the armed forces.
The jawan was bid farewell amid chants of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Sandeep Thok Amar Rahein' by grief-stricken villagers as his mortal remains were cremated late last night with full military honours.
Besides Sandip, three other bravehearts from Maharashtra -- Chandrakant Shankar Galande from Satara, Vikas Janardhan Kulmethe (27) from Yavatmal district and Panjab alias Vikas Janrao Uike (26) from Amravati -- were among the 18 jawans killed in the Uri terror attack.
Heavily armed militants, suspected to be from Pakistan-based JeM, had on Sunday stormed an Army base at Uri in Kashmir, killing 18 jawans.
(REOPENS BOM1)
Meanwhile, thousands of people gathered today at a small village in Satara district as the mortal remains of Lance Naik Chandrakant Galande, who died in the Uri attack, were consigned to flames with full military honours.
Thousands of villagers and teary-eyed family members bid adieu to the 27-year-old martyred jawan.
Galande's body was brought to his native Jashi village in Satara this morning where his last rites were performed.
A large procession was carried out as villagers displayed 'rangolis' in front of their houses to pay homage to the brave heart.
Satara's Guardian Minister Vijay Shivtare, state Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Girish Bapat, and several others paid tributes to the jawan.
Galande had joined the Army in 2004 as soon as he completed his education. He is survived by wife, two sons, parents and two brothers.
His parents, while talking to reporters yesterday, had demanded stern action against Pakistan.
