Indian Army Soldier from Gujarat Martyred in J&K, Cremated with Military Honours

Tapi: A 26-year-old Indian Army Lance Naik, Ritwik Kumar Ashokbhai Chaudhary, a native of Ukhalda village in Tapi district and serving with the 57 Field Regiment, died after accidentally falling while on duty at a forward post in Jammu and Kashmir.

The mortal remains of the soldier were brought to his native village, where a large number of people gathered to pay their final respects. His last rites were performed with full military and national honours amid a sombre atmosphere.

A Viranjali Yatra was taken out from Vyara to Ukhalda to honour the fallen soldier. Organised by ex-servicemen and paramilitary organisations, the procession carried his mortal remains in a decorated military vehicle through various roads of Vyara before proceeding towards his native village.

People joined the procession spontaneously in large numbers to bid a final farewell to the brave soldier. The atmosphere turned emotional and patriotic as people raised slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Ritwik Chaudhary Amar Raho”.

The yatra reached Chaudhary’s residence in Ukhalda via Dhanjaba. Army personnel present at the site accorded him a guard of honour, followed by a gun salute.

The brave soldier was subsequently cremated amid a large gathering of villagers, family members, former servicemen and security personnel, who paid their final respects as he was given a farewell with full national and military honours. DeshGujarat