Soldier laid to rest

The body of the Indian Army soldier Sagar (24) of 9 Rashtriya Rifles regiment was laid to rest in presence of thousands of people from all walks of life, who made a beeline to pay their last respects to the martyr at his native Sankeshwar town of Hukkeri taluk on Friday.

Sagar, who was killed due to electrocution while on duty in Anantnag of Jammu & Kashmir on August 15, was the only son of late Basavaraj Kumbar. He is survived by his mother and two sisters, one of whom is yet to be married.

Sagar, who belonged to a poor family, joined Army about four years ago. His father died three years ago and mother Mahadevi B. Kumbar tries to help the family by working as a tailor in a private tailoring shop in Sankeshwar town.

The body was flown to Goa from where it was brought in a vehicle to Sankeshwar on Friday. The body was buried at the Lingayat community’s graveyard in the town around 4 p.m.

Thousands of people from the town and nearby villages joined the funeral procession, shouted patriotic slogans in honour of the martyr.

Assistant Commissioner Rajeshree Jainapur, Tahsildar Lingangouda Patil, Additional Superintendent of Police Ravindra Gadade and officials from the Indian Army were present.