A tearful adieu was on Monday given to Capt Pawan Kumar and Capt Tushar Mahajan, who died fighting militants in Kashmir’s Pulwama district, with their last rites performed at their home towns in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir with full military honours.

On the Army and Government’s appeal, Jat protesters had cleared up the roads leading to Capt Pawan Kumar’s village. The Army had appealed to the people of Haryana to extend support in giving a “befitting farewell” to the brave son of the soil.

Earlier the martyr’s body draped in the tricolour was flown from Pathankot, where a wreath laying ceremony was held. A gun salute was given to the officer by the Army at Badhana village, even as his pyre was lit by his cousin brother (rpt) cousin brother Sandeep.

Despite Haryana including Jind district being hit by the Jat stir, a large number of people turned up to pay tributes to the son-of-the-soil.

Senior officials from the Army and senior Ministers of the Haryana Government — Capt Abhimanyu and Om Prakash Dhankar, besides State BJP President Subhash Barala and opposition party leader INlD leader Ramphal Majra paid their last respect to the officer.

Capt Abhimanyu, who was seen wiping off his tears while paying tributes to the officer, said that his sacrifice had taught a lesson to the youth of the State that if one has to lay down his life, it should be for the sake of one’s country. “I salute the great son-of-the-soil. Future generations will forever remain indebted to him,” Abhimanyu said.

The garrison town of Udhampur located on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway Monday closed down to pay last respects to the bravehearted Captain Tushar Mahajan of 9 Para soon after his mortal remains arrived here from Srinagar for the final leg of the last journey.

His parents received his mortal remains draped in a tricolour at the air force station.

With the help of Army officers both the parents paid floral tributes to their brave son before escorting his mortal remains to their home.

His mother broke down and wept inconsolably wrapping her arms around the casket.

The Captains attained martyrdom while leading their men from the front inside EDI complex in Pampore where gunfight between the terrorists and security forces raged for  three days.

Fondly remembered as ‘Chotu’ in his neighbourhood thousands of local residents had converged outside Adarsh colony residence of reputed Physics teacher in the area to join the final journey of his younger son.

Holding tricolour in their hands many youth in the area joined the funeral procession chanting  patriotic slogans.

People stood outside their houses and on the roof tops to offer floral tributes to the son of the soil as he embarked on the final journey.

Para commandos accompanied him to the cremation ground on the banks of Devika river where he was accorded emotional farewell with full military honours.

Paying tributes to his brave son Desraj Gupta said, “my son was very passionate about joining the Indian army and he laid down his life in the line of duty leading from the front. I am proud of his supreme sacrifice”.

He said Tushar was one of the youngest officers in NDA when he was selected for the course.

“He filled all the forms and made it to the final round. Initially, i was reluctant but never created any road blocks for him because he always wanted to don the olive greens and was motivated to do some thing for the mother Nation”.

 Posing a straight question to the political leaders of the country Desraj, however, asked how many young officers would have to make supreme sacrifice and for how long. When will these politicians take a decision to deal with this and respect the martyrdom of these braveheartsIJ