Lucknow:Â Â A pall of gloom descended on a village in Mathura when the family of Lance Naik Hemraj, who was killed by Pakistani troops near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Tuesday, braced itself to receive his mortal remains.
The body of the slain martyr was likely to reach his native village Shernagar, some 60 km from the district headquarters town of Mathura, by late evening.
Lance Naik Hemraj was with the 13th battalion of the Rajputana Rifles. He is survived by his aged mother, wife and three children, an official told IANS.
Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Mathura Anil Mishra told IANS that there was overwhelming grief and palpable anger in the village after the army headquarters in New Delhi informed the family of Lance Naik Hemraj’s death.
Lance Naik Hemraj and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh were killed Tuesday by Pakistan Army soldiers who had intruded across the LoC. Their mutilated bodies were later found by their fellow-soldiers on patrol.
Village head Dharm Singh said the slain soldier had visited his family around three months back to celebrate Diwali with his family.
Remembering him as a brave man, Dharm Singh said that besides financially supporting the family of the soldier the government should also bestow on him Ashok Chakra, the highest peace time award for valour.