Gloom descends on village as martyred Mandeep Singh is laid to rest

The residents of the village will not celebrate Diwali as a mark of tribute to the army soldier who was killed and mutilated by Pakistani terrorists.

The last rites of army jawan Mandeep Singh, who was killed by terrorists in Macchil sector of Jammu and Kashmir, were held with full state honours on Sunday, even as his family and villagers demanded that Pakistan be given a befitting reply for its repeated misadventures.

The jawan’s body, wrapped in the tricolour, was brought in a bedecked army vehicle to his native village as a large number of people including from neighbouring areas paid their last respect.

The martyr whose body was mutilated by the terrorists, was given a gun salute by the army, which sounded the last post.

Mandeep’s father lit the funeral pyre.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, senior army officers, officials from the district administration were present on the occasion.

Villagers who kept chanting ‘Shaheed Mandeep Amar Rahe’ also raised anti-Pakistan slogans.

The 30-year-old soldier was scheduled to return to his village to celebrate Diwali and for a ceremony in connection with the family’s newly constructed house, but instead he returned in a coffin, his family and local villagers, all of whom were inconsolable, said.

Mandeep’s family and villagers demanded the Centre avenge the sacrifice of soldiers and teach Pakistan a lesson. 

People of his village said they will not be celebrating Diwali as a mark of respect to the martyr’s supreme sacrifice. However, each household has decided to light a ‘diya’ (earthen lamp) in his memory.

There was anger among the people here over the barbaric incident at the Line of Control in Kashmir as the body of the jawan was mutilated by the terrorists, who were aided by the cover fire by Pakistan army.

Mandeep had joined the 17th Sikh regiment as a sepoy in 2008. He had got married in 2014.

Consoling the martyr’s family, Khattar while responding to their demand that stern action be taken against Pakistan for harbouring terrorists and its repeated misadventures, said that “we will teach them a lesson”.

“We will avenge this. Pakistan will be taught a lesson,” Khattar said.

He also said, “The martyr laid down his life for the nation’s sake. In this hour of grief, we are standing solidly behind the family. We will give whatever assistance they require.”

“An amount of Rs 50 lakh will be given as compensation and a government job will be offered to a family member. The government in order to ensure that Mandeep’s sacrifice is always remembered will do all suggested by the family members of the braveheart. We will not let the sacrifice of these soldiers go in vain,” said the CM.

He also said that the state government will consider raising a memorial or naming a road after the martyr.

A pall of gloom descended on the Antehri village after the body of the jawan reached here. People thronged the martyr’s house to pay their last respect before the coffin was carried in a bedecked vehicle for the last rites.

Mandeep’s widow Prerna is a head constable with Haryana police and posted at Shahbad Markanda.

Prerna said Pakistan must be taught a lesson for harbouring terrorists.

“We cannot see our soldiers dying daily,” she said breaking down into tears several times.

Mandeep is the youngest of three sons of Phool Singh.

Singh said the army should be given a free hand to deal with nefarious designs of Pakistan.

The martyr’s brother Sandeep said that he wants to join the army to avenge the killing of our soldiers.      

The martyr’s neighbours described him as a “go getter” who always had a smile on his face.

Mandeep’s sacrifice came within a week after Sushil Kumar, 47, a Border Security Force constable was martyred in Jammu district. He also hailed from Kurukshetra district and belonged to Pehowa town.  

Kumar was killed as Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire, resorting to heavy shelling and firing from automatic weapons in several sectors along the International Border in Jammu district on October 24.