Soldier killed in Pak firing cremated with full state honours

The state government has announced a financial aid of Rs15 lakh to the family.

The body of the 32-year-old martyred soldier Naik Rajendra Narayan Tupare was cremated on Tuesday at his native Majare Karve village of Chandgad taluk in Kolhapur amid full state honours.

Army personnel pay respects to Naik Rajendra Narayan Tupare, who was martyred in Krishna Ghati Sector, at Sambra Airport in Belgaum, Karnataka on Monday. (PTI)

Tupare was killed during the firing by Pakistani forces on Sunday along the line of control at Poonch sector. Gurusewak Singh, another jawan from the Sikh regiment, was also killed in the incident.

Tupare is survived by his wife Sharmila and two sons —seven-year-old Aryan and five-year-old Vaibhav. He joined the Army in 2002 after he passed the higher secondary examination (HSC). He was attached to the 22 Maratha Light Infantry.

The soldier’s body was brought to Belgaum by air and was taken to Majare Karve by road.

Scores of people including locals from neighboring villages and the politicians attended his funeral.

After the funeral, Tupare’s elder son Aryan said that he would like to join the defence forces and finish the task that his father had set out to do.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the government expressed solidarity with the martyr’s family. “Saluting our brave soldier Rajendra Tupare who was martyred while protecting our nation. We stand with his family in tough times,” tweeted Fadnavis. The state government has announced a financial aid of Rs15 lakh to the family.

“We were shocked to hear the news. We are also proud of him. He achieved martyrdom while fighting for the nation,” said Jyotiba Gadkari, Tupare’s father-in-law.