Twenty two-year old rifleman Rajat Kumar, martyred in the BAT attack along the Line of Control in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district on Sunday, was cremated with full military honours in his native Pallanwala village in Jammu on Monday.
Before his mortal remains arrived in the village hundreds of angry villagers and near and dear ones gave vent to their ire against the repeated attacks by 'beleaguered' Pakistan army and demanded a 'firm' response from the Indian Government.
Ratan Lal, father of brave heart Rajat Kumar said, "I am feeling proud my son sacrificed his life in the line of duty defending frontiers of mother Nation. At the same time i want to know for how long our sons will keep sacrificing their lives like this. It is time to give Pakistan a befitting reply", he added.
Rifleman Rajat Kumar's younger brother and close friends in the village also appealed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to teach Pakistan a bitter lesson on the borders. Several youngsters demanded better equipment for the Indian army jawans to tackle the threat along the border.
"We are all ready to give a befitting reply to Pakistan army. We urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to order a special recruitment drive in their border villages so that more and more youth can join Indian army and take revenge of 'barbaric' killing of Indian soldiers in the BAT strike", one of the school time friend of Rajat Kumar told reporters outside his home.
Paying glowing tributes to his close friend, he said, "whenever Rifleman Rajat Kumar, came home on leave we used to go for running and participated in several events together to relive our child hood memories".
He said Rifleman Rajat Kumar was very social and took good care of his parents and younger brother. His younger brother said, "given an opportunity he too would join the Indian army and serve the Nation".
Earlier, mortal remains of two other jawans Lance Naik Ranjeet Singh and Havaldar Kaushal Kumar were dispatched to their native villages in Ramban and Nowshera respectively after wreath laying ceremony in Akhnoor.
According to Defence spokesman, Lance Naik Ranjeet Singh is survived by a pregnant wife Shimu Devi. She is expected to deliver next month.
Havaldar Kaushal Kumar is survived by wife Naresh Kumari and two daughters aged 12 and 8 years and a 10 year old son.