Army bids farewell to slain soldiers killed in militant ambush in Kashmir

Militants ambushed a military convoy on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday, killing two soldiers and wounding four.

The Indian army on Sunday paid tributes to two soldiers who were killed in a militant attack on a convoy in south Kashmir a day earlier.

Indian army soldiers conduct a patrol during an operation against suspected rebels in Turkwangam Lassipora in Shopian south of Srinagar on May 4. (AFP File Photo)

The army in a statement called the attack in Qazigund area a “dastardly terrorist action”.

“In a solemn ceremony at BB Cantt, Srinagar, many senior officials from other Security Forces and civil administration including DGP J-K joined Lt Gen JS Sandhu, Chinar Corps Commander and all ranks in paying homage to the martyrs on behalf of a proud nation,” the army statement said.

Naik Dipak Kumar Maity, 43, had joined Army in 1997 and was a native of Midnapur in West Bengal. He is survived by his wife Rikta and a 13-year-old daughter.

Gunner (Operator) Manivannan G, 25, was from Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. He had joined the army in 2013 and is survived by his parents, mother G Chinnaponnu and father Gopal G.

The army statement added: “The mortal remains of the martyrs will be flown for last rites to their native places where they will be laid to rest with full military honours. In this hour of grief, the Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved families of the martyrs and remains committed to their dignity and wellbeing.”