Anantnag encounter: Colonel Manpreet Singh’s son salutes his father while wearing camouflage at last rituals as the country mourns
Colonel Manpreet Singh was laid to rest at Mullanpur, Punjab, after he died in Anantnag while participating in an anti-terror operation.
The country mourns the death of Colonel Manpreet Singh, who gave his life in an anti-terror operation in the Anantnag area of Jammu and Kashmir. His last rites were carried out in Mullanpur, Punjab.
The 7-year-old son of Col. Manpreet salutes the lifeless remains.
A two-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy were left behind by Colonel Manpreet. His children paid respect to Colonel Manpreet’s tremendous sacrifice for the country, despite being too young to realize the seriousness of the situation. His son Kabir honored the lifeless remains while wearing camouflage, which caused intense emotion.
A terrorist encounter at Gadole in the Kokernag region of South Kashmir resulted in the deaths of Colonel Manpreet, the commanding officer of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles unit of the Indian Army, Major Ashish Dhonchak, and deputy superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police Humayun Bhat. An previously reported missing soldier who was a part of the counterterrorism operation also perished.
In his hometown of Mullanpur, Colonel Manpreet’s lifeless remains, wrapped in the national flag, were given a solemn homecoming with full military honors.
Thousands of mourners, including family members and other officers, gathered to say their last goodbyes to this second-generation soldier, including former Army Chief General (Retd) VP Malik.
In his native Panipat, Major Dhonchak was buried with full military honors. “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Jab tak suraj chand rahega, Ashish tera naam rahega” are two patriotic anthems that fill the air. Along the journey, several ladies had also shown up and paid their respects to the soldier.
In the meanwhile, DSP Humayun Bhat’s funeral services were held in Budgam on Wednesday night.
Terrorists are still being fought by security troops in Rajouri’s Narla neighborhood in Jammu & Kashmir. Drones have been used as the operation enters its third day to locate them in the Anantnag district’s steep, wooded environment.
