Ranchiites on Sunday bid a tearful adieu to the martyred son of the city who sacrificed his life in the service of the nation thousands of kilometres away from Jharkhand. Sankalp Shukla, 35-year old lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army, was given a hero's farewell by people of all social strata during his last rites conducted on Sunday at Mukti Dham at Harmu.
The lieutenant Colonel in 24-Punjab Regiment had sustained fatal injuries during a terrorist attack at an army camp in Uri sector near the line-of-Control on December 5. Shukla's last rites were performed with full military honours and was given a guard-of-honour.
His eight-year-old daughter Sara gave 'mukhagni' as his father SK Shukla performed the last rites. Harmu Mukti Dham wore a somber mood in the morning and so were the people of Harmu and Vidya Nagar who were well aware of the special man who is going to arrive at the last place in the mortal world on the journey to heavenly abode.
"He is Sankalp Shukla. He had sustained bullet injuries earlier as well but could not survive this time," said a youngster standing near the main entrance of Mukti Dham.
The atmosphere soaked in politics and elections was dominated by military band playing the tunes while marching forward with head holding high and carrying the mortal remains of their soldier. The moment was among many when emotions spilled on the streets and manifested in the form of anti-Pakistan slogans and extolling the son of the soil for bringing fame to the motherland. The martyred soldier's body arrived at 11 in the morning in an open truck and the procession that started from Booty More was joined by senior military officials also.
"Sankalp tum amar raho. Tumhari shahadat bekar nahin jayegi (Sankalp may you live forever. Your sacrifice shall not be wasted), said a 60-year-old person. Political class cutting across party lines joined the procession of lt Col Sankalp and offered tribute during the wreath laying ceremony at Mukti Dham.
The funeral ceremony was attended by Governor Syed Ahmed, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Minister of State (MoS) for Petroleum, Dharmendra Pradhan, MoS for Finance Jayant Sinha, MoS for Social Justice & Empowerment Sudarshan Bhagat, former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, Ranchi MP Ram Tahal Choudhary, JPCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat and Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay.
The funeral ceremony was also attended by Ranchi MlA CP Singh, Bhartiya Janta Party candidate for Hatia Seema Sharma and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha candidate for Ranchi Mahua Maji. Senior police officials and officials of district administration were also present on the occasion.
The 35-year-old soldier had completed his schooling at Ranchi's St Bishop School and graduated from St Xavier's College before qualifying Combined Defense Services (CDS) examination in 1999. Sankalp's last rites were performed by his 8-year-old daughter. He is survived by parents and two daughters and wife.