An Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) soldier, who was martyred in a Naxalite attack in Chhattisgarh, was cremated with full honors on Sunday in his native village in Samba district along the international border. The mortal remains of head constable Joginder Kumar (45) were brought to Abtal Katalan village of Ramgarh sector late on Saturday night.
Samba: An Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) soldier, who was martyred in a Naxalite attack in Chhattisgarh, was cremated with full honors on Sunday in his native village in Samba district along the international border. The mortal remains of head constable Joginder Kumar (45) were brought to Abtal Katalan village of Ramgarh sector late on Saturday night.
After the completion of voting for the second phase of assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, head constable Joginder Kumar was martyred on Friday in an explosion near Gobra village in Gariaband district. Officials, including Samba Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma and Senior Superintendent of Police Benam Tosh, as well as political leaders from almost all parties attended the wreath-laying ceremony of the soldier.
When the blast took place, the security personnel were returning with a group of polling personnel. Hundreds of people, some carrying the national flag and chanting patriotic slogans, turned up to bid farewell to the soldier who was cremated by his nine-year-old son amid a guard of honour and a gunfire salute by an ITBP contingent.
Earlier, the youth of the village took out a more than 10 kilometer long motorcycle rally from Abtal Katalan village to Samba town to pay tribute to Kumar. Kumar’s father and elder brother are retired from the army, while his other two younger brothers are serving in ITBP and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The Deputy Commissioner said, “We have gathered in Kumar’s village to bid him a last farewell who sacrificed his life while on election duty.
We stand with his family and will ensure that the district administration provides all necessary assistance.” ITBP’s 47th battalion commandant Rakesh Kumar said Joginder Kumar was a dedicated member of the force. “Our battalion is originally based in Arunachal Pradesh and had gone to Chhattisgarh for election duty,” the officer told reporters after Kumar’s funeral.
The Commandant said that investigation into the attack is ongoing and the culprits will not be spared.
