PALAMPUR: Naik Arvind Kumar, a brave soldier who lost his life in the line of duty, was cremated with state honors at his ancestral village of Suri (Marhun). His brother Bhupinder Kumar lit the funeral pyre as family, friends, and military officers paid their respects. Naik Arvind Kumar was one of five soldiers who were killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Rajouri on May 5.
Earlier in the morning, the body of the martyr was brought back to his native village, where Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Chandra Kumar Chaudhary paid tribute on behalf of the Chief Minister. Chief Parliamentary Secretary Urban Development and Education Ashish Butail, MLA Sulah Vipin Singh Parmar, President Himachal Pradesh Agricultural Development Bank Sanjay Chauhan, former MLA Jagjivan Paul, Deputy Commissioner Dr Nipun Jindal, and SP Ms Shalini Agnihotri also paid their respects.
Minister Chandra Kumar Chaudhary and CPM Ashish Butail met with the family members of the martyr and expressed their deepest condolences. The Agriculture Minister assured the family that the state government stands with them in this hour of grief and will provide a job to the martyr's wife in the government sector. He also announced that the Government Senior Secondary School Marhun will be renamed in honor of the martyr.
The government has made an immediate relief of Rs. 5 lakh available through SDM to support the family during this difficult time. Naik Arvind Kumar leaves behind his mother Nirmala Devi, father Ujjwal Singh, wife Bindu Devi, and two young daughters, Shanvi (4) and Shanvika (2).