Pulwama terror attack: Slain CRPF jawan cremated in J'Khand

The mortal remains of CRPF jawan Vijay Soreng were consigned to flames on Saturday in Jharkhand's Gumla district amid chanting of vedic hymns.

He was accorded a state funeral at his native village Pharsma.

People gathered in huge numbers to attend Soreng's last rites. Union minister Sudarshan Bhagat, Assembly Speaker Dinesh Oraon, former minister and Congress leader Gitashree Oraon, IG (CRPF) Sanjay Lathkar, three commandants of the CRPF, former IPS officers Hemant Toppo and Sheetal Oraon also attended the cremation.

Soreng's son, Arun, lit his funeral pyre after the Last Post was sounded.

Earlier in the day, Soreng's mortal remains arrived at the Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi amid chants of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram" by thousands of people who had gathered to pay their last respects to the martyr.

Many in the crowd, that included women and children, broke down and others were close to tears as the coffin of the 44-year-old slain soldier arrived.

Several dignitaries including Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha, Director General of Police D K Pandey and IG (CRPF) Sanjay Lathkar also paid homage to the martyr.

Jharkhand Governor Droupadi Murmu, Urban Development Minister C P Singh, former Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay, BJP MP Ram Tahal Choudhary, Central Coalfields CMD Gopal Singh, Army officers and several political leaders were also present.

Chants of "You will live forever, Vijay Soreng" and "Pakistan Murdabad" filled the air as the coffin was taken to Pharsma.

Soreng is survived by five children and wife, official sources said.

On Thursday, 40 CRPF personnel were killed and five injured when a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden car into their bus in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

Chief Minster Raghubar Das spoke to Soreng's wife on Friday and said the entire state was behind the family, official sources said.

Local residents have been holding candlelight marches across the state to pay homage to the martyrs.