Major laid to rest with military honours

Major David Manlun, who died in a gunfight with militants in Nagaland, was laid to rest with military honours on Thursday at the Assam Regimental Centre in Meghalaya.

Major Manlun, 32, led an Army operation on Tuesday in which three militants of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent and an autorickshaw driver allegedly ferrying the militants were killed in Nagaland's Mon district bordering Myanmar.

Three Army commandos were injured in the battle at Lapa Lempong hilltop in Oting village.

Commissioned into the 1st Battalion the Naga Regiment in March 2010, Major Manlun joined the battalion Naugam in Jammu and Kashmir and served there for two years and took part in a number of operations.

After a stint in Himachal Pradesh, Major Manlun was posted in Nagaland.

Hundreds of people, including Meghalaya Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Meghalaya Police chief Swaraj Bir Singh, as well as Army and Meghalaya Police officials paid their last respect to the Major at his residence.

Barring a Hill State People's Democratic Party legislator, no Meghalaya minister was present at the residence or at the Assam Regimental Centre.

The final journey from his house till the Assam Regimental Centre was witnessed by thousands of civilians who thronged the streets to bid adieu to the officer.

Major Manlun was awarded with the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card for a number of successful operations and in recognition of his exemplary service on August 15 last year.

--IANS

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