Haryana bids adieu to martyr Rocky Singh

Border Security Force’s constable Rocky Singh, 25 who laid down his life while fighting heavily armed terrorists in Udhampur on August 5, was cremated with State honours at his ancestral village of Yamunagar in Haryana on Friday The pyre was lit by Rocky's elder brother Rohit Kumar. Slogans like ‘Shaheed Rocky Singh Amar Rahey’ (long live Martyr Rocky Singh) were shouted when Rocky’s elder brother lit the pyre. 

Rocky was serving as a constable in 59 Battalion of Border Security Force (BSF). He had emptied his entire magazine containing 40 bullets when two heavily-armed militants attacked the BSF convoy in Udhampur in Jammu & Kashmir on August 5, saving the day for the force and safeguarding the lives of 44 unarmed personnel. 

His body was brought to Yamunanagar on Thursday night and kept at civil hospital. BSF deputy inspector general (DIG) AK Gulia, officials of the district administration and police, and other soldiers were present at the funeral. On this occasion, the contingent of Army jawans reversed their arms to pay tribute to the martyr.

Haryana Speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar presented homage to the martyr and Minister Karan Dev Kamboj joined the funeral on behalf of Haryana Government. 

Recognising Rocky’s bravery Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal had on Thursday announced a Government job for his family member and an ex-gratia grant of Rs 20 lakh to the family.

BSF officials said the 25-year-old trooper kept the militants engaged and did not allow them to lob grenades on the bus full of BSF personnel as reinforcement reached the spot only after 20 minutes. Rocky's colleague and driver of the bus Shubhendu Roy was also killed in the attack when militant punctured the tyres of the bus to immobilize it and then took targets to hit BSF men present inside in Udhampur district. 

As top BSF officials praised the courage of the trooper, a pall of gloom descended on this nondescript village in Haryana. The braveheart's father Preetpal had said his son was with the family just two weeks back. “little did I no that he will meet this fate,” Preetpal had said.  He, however, added, “My village and the entire country feels proud that he has laid down his life for the nation's sake.” Rocky is survived by father Preetpal, mother Angrozei Devi, brother Rohit and younger sister Neha. Rocky had joined the force nearly two-and-a-half years ago.