Soldier killed in Kashmir gun battle cremated with full honours

Sindhudurg (Maharashtra), May 24 Thousands of people on Tuesday bade a tearful farewell to Pandurang Mahadev Gawade, a soldier martyred in a gun battle in Kashmir, as his last rites were performed with full military honours at his Amboli village in this district, officials said.

Gawade's widow and two young children were joined at the funeral by thousands of villagers and mourners from surrounding areas, who chanted "Pandurang Gawade amar rahe" (Long live Pandurang Gawade).

The young soldier of the Indian Army was wounded last Saturday in a gun battle with five heavily armed terrorists in Durgmulla in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. He died on Sunday in a military hospital.

The successful anti-­terror operation resulted in all the five terrorists being eliminated by the security forces.

The Indian Army on Monday paid a befitting tribute to Gawade, lauding his valour and sacrifice at a solemn ceremony in Badami Bag Cantonment in Srinagar.

Chinar Corps' commander Lt. Gen. Satish Dua and other officers laid wreaths beside Gawade's mortal remains and saluted the brave soldier.

Gawade's body was taken to Goa on Monday and held at the Panaji Military Hospital till Tuesday morning.

After a wreath laying ceremony by Brig. S.K. Agarwala, Commandant of 2 Signal Training Centre in Goa, the mortal remains were taken by road to Amboli village in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra and the last rites were performed.