Martyred soldier cremated with state honours in Himachal's Bilaspur

Army jawan Sowar Vijay Kumar martyred while fighting terrorists in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir was today cremated with full state honours at his native village in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district.

Posted with 22 Rashtriya Rifles of Army, Kumar (31) made his supreme sacrifice during an encounter with militants at Drusoo Behrampora village in north Kashmir's Sopore yesterday. Two terrorists were eliminated in the encounter.

A guard of honour was given to the martyr's body by army jawans led by Major Rakesh Upadhyay.

A large number of persons from the village and surrounding areas gathered at the crematorium to bid final adieu to the brave soldier.

Himachal minister Bikram Singh Thakur, MLA Ram Lal Thakur, Bilaspur deputy commissioner Vivek Bhatia, superintendent of police Ashok Kumar, BJP state president Satpal Satti and others laid wreath at the body to pay their homage.

The martyr's body reached at his house at Uttapur village in Naina Devi sub division of Bilaspur district at 3:30 pm.

He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Earlier in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur paid tribute to the martyr Vijay Kumar, a press note stated.

In his message, the governor prayed the almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family members to bear this irreparable loss.

The chief minister in his message said that the gallant soldiers of the state always fought with bravery for the security of the nation. The country and the state will always remember the ultimate sacrifice of Sepoy Vijay Kumar, he added.