Rifleman killed in ceasefire violation cremated in Moga

BATHINDA: Rifleman Karamjeet Singh (24), who was killed in the wee hours of Monday in unprovoked firing from Pakistan side in Sundarbabni sector near Line of Control in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, was cremated with full military honours at his native village Janer in Moga on Tuesday. Hundreds of people from adjoining areas came for the cremation of the martyred rifleman.

Karamjeet’s father Avtar Singh and elder brother Swaran Singh lit the pyre after a gun salute by an Army contingent led by Captain Gokul Ashok from 18 JAK RIF, a regiment to which the slain soldier belonged. Avtar, an ex-serviceman, had asked the Prime Minister on Monday to find long lasting solution to the proxy war waged by Pakistan so as to stop the killings of jawans at the border.

Meanwhile, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday directed the defence services welfare department to extend financial assistance of Rs 12 lakh to the family Karamjeet.

The relief includes Rs 7 lakh as ex gratia and Rs 5 lakh in lieu of land to be given to the next of kin of the martyr, as per the existing policy, said an official spokesperson.

Amarinder had earlier tweeted, “Pakistan shamelessly continues to violate all principles of international & humanitarian law with its repeated ceasefire violations. Punjab has once again lost a young soldier from Moga due to Pak firing. My heart goes out to the family of Karamjeet Singh.”

Moga deputy commissioner Sandeep Hans and SSP A S Bajwa laid a wreath on the behalf of Punjab government and governor. Captain Ashok laid wreath on behalf of the Army.

Faridkot MP Sadhu Singh, MLAs Harjot Kamal and Sukhjit Singh Lohgarh, former ministers Tota Singh and Malti Thapar too paid tributes.

Karamjit had joined the Army in 2015 and was posted in Jammu and Kashmir for over one and a half years.