Dharamshala, May 11 (UNI) The last rites of Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, who was martyred in cross-border shelling by Pakistan in Poonch, were performed with full military honours in his native village of Shahpur in Kangra district on Sunday.
A massive crowd turned out to pay their last respects, as emotional scenes unfolded with youth and locals chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' in unison. His son performed the last rites.
On behalf of the state government, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Agriculture Minister Prof. Chander Kumar, Deputy Chief Whip of the Assembly Kewal Singh Pathania, DC Kangra Hemraj Bairwa, and SP Shalini Agnihotri laid floral wreaths on the martyr’s mortal remains. Former Assembly Speaker Vipin Parmar, former Minister Sarveen Chaudhary, and former MLA Arun Kumar also paid heartfelt tributes.
Earlier, hundreds gathered in Dramman, where the martyr’s body first arrived.
Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, a resident of Ward No. 4 in Shahpur, was posted in Poonch as part of the 25 Punjab Regiment and lost his life on May 10 during intense shelling by Pakistani forces amidst ongoing tensions along the border.
His mortal remains were brought to Shahpur by road in the afternoon, where full military honours were accorded before cremation.
Pawan Kumar followed in the footsteps of his father, Garaj Singh, a retired havildar of the Indian Army. He is survived by his parents, wife, a son, and a daughter.
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