Havaldar Vikram Singh cremated

KHARAR, JULY 13: The mortal remains of 30-year-old Havaldar Vikram Singh of 8 Sikh Battalion were consigned to flames at his native villa...

KHARAR, JULY 13: The mortal remains of 30-year-old Havaldar Vikram Singh of 8 Sikh Battalion were consigned to flames at his native village Kubaheri, under Kharar sub-division, about 20 km from here, this afternoon with full military honours.

About 10,000 persons bid a tearful farewell to the brave soldier, who laid down his life during the recapture of Tiger Hill on July 6. It was a heart-rending scene at the crematorium when the pyre was lit by Havaldar Vikram Singh’s seven-year-old son Gurvinder Singh, while the family members, relatives and friends of the deceased wept inconsolably.

The young widow, Paramjit Kaur (26), hailing from Manakpur village in Haryana, had a tough time controlling her emotions. Earlier, the tricolour draped body of the Havaldar was placed on a decorated Army truck and carried to the crematorium, followed by thousands of villagers, relatives and friends, besides a large number of Army officers and jawans.

Resident from Kubaheri village and its adjoining villages thronged to pay their last respects to the martyr. People climbed onto trees and stood on roof-tops to witness the last rites. Amid tearful scenes, people raised slogans Bharat mata ki jai, Shaheed Vikram Singh amar rahe, Pakistan Murdabad.

Recounting the attack on the fateful night of July 6, an Army officer attending the funeral told ENS that Havaldar Vikram Singh killed many enemies before making the supreme sacrifice. Wreaths were laid on the body by Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Punjab Minister of State for Agriculture Ajit Singh Kohar, Brig S.K. Sinha, Brig T.S. Gill, Col Partap Dola, Roopnagar Deputy Commissioner Kulbir Singh Sidhu, SSP Jaskaran Singh, Col Didar Singh on behalf of Ex-Services League, Punjab Sainik Welfare Board Director Kuldeep Singh Kohli.

Later, Panchayats Minister Nirmal Singh Kahlon said the government will provide a grant of Rs 2 lakh to the Havaldar’s widow while a sum of Rs 5 lakh will be provided for the housing purposes. He said a member of gallant soldier’s family will be given a government job as per his/her educational qualification and free education will be provided to the soldier’s children.

Kahlon said the Government Middle School of Kubaheri village will be upgraded and named after Havaldar Vikram Singh. A one-km stretch of link road between Kubaheri and Banara villages will also be named after him. He announced a grant of Rs 50,000 for the construction of a shed in the village crematorium.