The absence of military guard of honour for Agniveer Amritpal Singh’s funeral in his native village of Kotli Kalan in Mansa district of Punjab on October 13 has attracted criticism from the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and others. The Army, however, said that “the cause of death being a self inflicted injury, no guard of honour or military funeral was provided, in accordance with existing policy”. Amritpal Singh had served with his unit, 10 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in Poonch area of Jammu and Kashmir when he died of a gunshot wound to the head on October 10. On X, the Army said, “Agniveer Amritpal Singh died while on sentry duty in Rajouri Sector, due to a self inflicted gun shot injury. Court of Inquiry to ascertain more details is in progress. Mortal remains of the deceased, accompanied by one Junior Commissioned Officer and four Other Ranks, were transported in a Civil Ambulance hired by the Unit of the Agniveer. Accompanying Army personnel also attended the last rites. The cause of death being a self inflicted injury, no guard of honour or military funeral was provided, in accordance with the policy. ” Former Meghalaya Governor Satyapal Malik said the remains of Amritpal were brought to his village in an ambulance by a Havildar and two jawans and not Army vehicle. He said the villagers approached the district's SSP who arranged a police guard of honour for the Agniveer in the absence of Army personnel. He criticised the Centre for denying the status of a ‘martyr’ to Agniveers. On X, state Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said, “This is a sad day for our country as this who was recruited under the Agniveer scheme was sent back home in a Pvt ambulance & not given any guard of honour by the @adgpi. Does being an Agniveer mean that their lives don’t matter as much?” Salute the bravery of our 19 year old soldier, Amrit Pal Singh form Mansa who attained martyrdom for our nation. This is a sad day for our country as this who was recruited under the Agniveer scheme was sent back home in a Pvt ambulance & not given any guard of honour by the… pic.twitter.com/wGY5Q9toKU — Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) October 14, 2023 Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia’s on X said, “It is most tragic and unfortunate to see that due to the Modi Government's new Agniveer Policy first martyr of the country, only 19-year-old Amritpal Singh was not even provided army ambulance to bring his body home. It is most shameful to note that even customary Guard of Honour was not provided to Martyr.” Majithia’s went on to say that only the previous day the Union Home Minister had accepted that martyrs from Sikh community were at the forefront to save the country. “Keeping in view insensitive approach of Modi Government youth will desist from getting recruited under the scheme. Modi government should immediately stop this scheme.” he said. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on X said irrespective of the Centre's policies with regard to the death of Agniveer Amritpal Singh, the Punjab government will consider him a martyr and as with any other martyr, will pay Rs 1 crore to the deceased's family and lodge protest with the Centre. ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਹੀਦੀ ਬਾਰੇ ਫੌਜ ਦੀ ਨੀਤੀ ਜੋ ਵੀ ਹੋਵੇ ਪਰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੀ ਨੀਤੀ ਓਹੀ ਰਹੇਗੀ ਜੋ ਹਰੇਕ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਲਈ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ..ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦਾ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਹੈ..1 ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਰਾਸ਼ੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵਲੋਂ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ..ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਕੋਲ ਸਖ਼ਤ ਇਤਰਾਜ਼ ਵੀ ਉਠਾਇਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ.. — Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) October 14, 2023 Speaking to The Indian Express, Brigadier BS Dhillon (retired), Director Sainik Welfare Punjab said that he was not aware of the reasons why there was no Army presence at the funeral. “We have received no intimation of any kind on this from the Army,” he said. The Defence PRO, Jammu, Lt Col Suneel Bartwal also said he was not aware why there was no Army presence at the funeral.
