Two Uri martyrs laid to rest with state honours in Jharkhand

Ranchi, Sep 20 (IANS) Two Indian soldiers -- killed in a terror attack in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir -- were laid to rest on Tuesday in their natives villages in Khunti and Gumla districts of Jharkhand with full state honours.

Hundreds of people were present when the burial ceremonies of Sepoy Javra Munda and Sepoy Naiman Kujur were held in their respective villages.

The bodies arrived at the Ranchi airport on Monday night, from where these were sent to the villages of the two soldiers on Tuesday.

As Munda's body reached Meral village in Khunti district, the residents of his village and those from nearby areas thronged his house to have a last glimpse of their hero.

Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Neelkanth Singh Munda and senior police and army officials were present on the sombre occasion.

Munda is survived by his mother, wife, three daughters and a younger brother.

Anger was palpable among those gathered at Meral, as many villagers chorused for stern action against Pakistan in the wake of the Uri attack on Sunday. The mourners also shouted anti-Pakistan slogans.

"The Indian Army should be given a free hand to deal with both terrorists and Pakistan," said a village youth Makan Munda.

The Sepoy's widow Jhingi Dhanwar demanded that her husband's death should be avenged. She urged authorities to take care of her family as her husband was the sole breadwinner for them. She said she was concerned about the education of her children.

She was admitted to a local hospital in Khunti district after her condition worsened.

Sepoy Naiman Kujur was laid to rest at his ancestral Uru village in Chainpur block of Gumla district.

People lined the route to offer their respects as the body was taken from Ranchi to Gumla by road.

Emotions ran high as the body arrived at the village, with mourners shouting slogans against Pakistan and praising the martyr.

Jharkhand Sports and Tourism Minister Amar Kumar Bauri along with senior district officials were among those who paid tributes to Kujur, who is survived by his wife Veena Tigga and a two-year-old son Abhinav.

His widow too demanded action against Pakistan. She said if given an opportunity, she too would like to serve in the army.

As many as 18 soldiers were killed when four militants said to be from Jaish-e-Mohammed attacked an army camp near Uri town in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. The four militants were killed by security forces.