Fallen soldiers of Shopian encounter laid to rest

Two fallen soldiers of Shopian encounter- Sepoy Sumedh Waman and Sepoy Ilayaraja P- were laid to rest on Monday in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu respectively.

Waman and Ilayaraja made supreme sacrifice for the country on Saturday in Avneera village of Zainapora area in Shopian district of south Kashmir while fighting with terrorists.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami on Monday announced compensation of Rs 20 lakh to kin of Sepoy Ilayaraja, whose last rites were performed with full military honours at his native place Sivagangai in Tamil Nadu.

Last rites of Sepoy Sumedh Waman were performed at Lonagra village in Akola, Maharashtra.

Vamanrao Gawai, father of Sepoy Sumedh Waman, told ANI that "my son sacrificed his life for the country with Vande Matram as his last words. My younger son is in the army too, If one has fallen down, my another son is still standing, who will make the enemy pay back for his brother's death."

Both Waman and Ilayaraja P served Chinar Corps, which paid them rich tributes to its heroes on Sunday at Corps' headquarters in Srinagar.

Army's strategic Chinar Corps is responsible for guarding the Line of Control in Kashmir Valley.