Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 11: A Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Services (JKAS) officer, Dr Raj Kumar Thapa who lost his life in Pakistani shelling at Rajouri, was cremated with full state honours at Ban Talab cremation ground, Jammu North today.
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Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, Minister for Transport and FCS&CA Satish Sharma, former Dy CM Kavinder Gupta, MP Jugal Kishore and many others from BJP, National Conference and Congress besides hundreds of mourners joined at the cremation ground to pay floral tribute to Additional District Development Commissioner, Rajouri Dr Raj Kumar Thapa.
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Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, IGP Jammu Bhimsen Tuti, SSP and Deputy Commissioner besides others also attended the cremation of the senior Government officer.
Thapa was martyred when a mortar shell landed in his residential compound in Rajouri town early Saturday. His mortal remains were brought to his Roop Nagar residence in Jammu North in a police vehicle, and later his body was cremated in a nearby cremation ground, at Ban Talab.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha also visited the bereaved family to offer his condolences. He paid homage to the distinguished public servant who worked assiduously to fulfil the people’s aspirations.
“Dr Thapa’s contribution to J&K’s development is immense. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and numerous admirers in this hour of grief. I pray for peace for the departed soul,” Sinha said.
Talking to reporters after the cremation, the Deputy Chief Minister said the officer and all those who lost their lives in the four-day-long conflict between India and Pakistan will be remembered forever for their sacrifice.
“Thapa was known for his dedication, competence, unwavering professionalism and people-friendly approach, and his departure is a big loss for J&K,” Choudhary said.
The Deputy Chief Minister, who also visited the officer’s residence on Saturday, asserted that the Government stands firmly with his family in this hour of grief.
“I spent two days with him recently during my tour of Rajouri-Poonch districts to take stock of the situation in the wake of Pakistani shelling,” he said, adding this is the sacrifice of the people like Thapa and the border residents, which makes India and J&K strong.
Sharma, a senior BJP leader, also paid rich tribute to the officer and said he will be remembered for his professionalism and dedication.
He also praised the Indian Armed Forces for carrying out recent precision strikes against terror infrastructure across the border and said this demonstrated the strong will of the BJP-led Central Government.
Prominent among those who attended last rites of ADDC Dr Raj Kumar Thapa included-former Dy CM Tara Chand, Congress working president Raman Bhalla, chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, AICC Secy Niraj Kundan, Th Balwan Singh, Th Hari Singh Chib, Narinder Sharma, state BJP chief Sat Sharma, Sham Lal Sharma, former Minister Ajay Sadhotra, senior NC leader Vijay Lochan and others.
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