Three martyred soldiers of Nepalese origin cremated in Himachal

Three Indian Army soldiers of Nepalese origin, who were killed in a gunbattle with militants in Jammu and Kashmir, were cremated in an army cantonment in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, officials said.

Families of Havildars Girish Gurung and Dambar Bahadur and Rifleman Rabin Sharma, who were killed in a gunfight in Nowgam sector of Kashmir's Kupwara district, reached 14 Gorkha Training Centre in Subathu in Solan district where the soldiers were cremated with full military honours, an official told IANS.

Subathu is around 50 km from the state capital.

The soldiers, who belonged to 14 Gorkha Training Centre, were martyred while fighting with militants on May 21. Four militants were also killed in the army operation that lasted over two days along the Line of Control.

Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dhani Ram Shandil and Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Virender Kashyap were among those who attended the cremation.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Governor Acharya Devvrat have expressed grief over the death of the soldiers. The Chief Minister said the supreme sacrifice of the soldiers would be remembered by the country.

--IANS

vg/pgh/bg