Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 2: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today paid tributes to Rifleman Shubham Sharma of 8-JAK RIF who attained martyrdom during Thursday’s unprovoked ceasefire violation in Naugam sector, Kupwara.
“Rifleman Shubham Sharma has laid down his life in the service of the nation. The nation is indebted by his sacrifice. We are proud of our Armed Forces and we stand strong in their support,” the Lt Governor remembered the young Jawan whose mortal remains were consigned to flames in R S Pura today.
The Lt Governor also paid tributes to Havaldar Kuldeep Singh of Unit 15 SIKH LI, who attained martyrdom in the same incident. He prayed for the speedy recovery of four other Jawans who were injured in the incident.
Meanwhile, Army paid a befitting tribute to Havildar Kuldeep Singh and Rifleman Shubam Sharma, who made the supreme sacrifice yesterday in north Kashmir, an Army spokesman said.
In a solemn ceremony at Badamibagh Cantonment here, Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen B S Raju and all ranks paid homage to the bravehearts on behalf of the proud nation, the spokesman said.
He said Singh and Sharma were directing retaliatory fire from a Forward Post on the LoC in response to an unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan.
Both of them laid down their lives in the line of duty as a result of a direct hit by the enemy fire and succumbed to injuries, the spokesman added.
He said Singh (37) had joined the Army on August 26, 2002, and belonged to Raju Dwakhari village in Hoshiarpur District of Punjab and is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.
Sharma (22) had joined the Army on September 17, 2016, and hailed from Shakhian Chak village in Jammu district and is survived by his father.
The spokesman said while Singh was enrolled in the 15 Sikh Light Infantry, Sharma belonged to the 8 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles.
They both displayed their mettle by doing extremely well in their trade work and all fields. These brave sons of the soil displayed immense physical and mental strength in the face of the enemy, he said.
In this hour of grief, the Army salutes their sacrifice and stands in solidarity with the bereaved families, he added.