The funeral of Colonel Ashutosh Sharma of 21 Rashtriya Rifles, who recently attained martyrdom while battling terrorists in Jammu & Kashmirs Handwara on May 2, was performed with full military honours here on Tuesday, said Col Sombit Ghosh, PRO Defence, Rajasthan.
Wreaths were laid on the mortal remains by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Army Commander, Sapta Shakti Command, Lt Gen Alok Kler.
Also present on the occasion were Member of Parliament Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, state minister Pratap Singh Khachariya and many other dignitaries, Col Ghosh said.
Speaking on the occasion, Gen Kler saluted the bravery and ultimate sacrifice made by Col Sharma, as also by his other four comrades, including Maj Anuj Sood, who were all martyred in the bloody encounter.
He highlighted that Col Sharma represented every gallant soldier in operations and assured that the Indian Army will always remember the martyr and his family in the years to come. He also interacted with the family members of Col Sharma and expressed his condolences to them.
Col Sharma was commissioned on September 1, 2001 into the 19th Batallion, Brigade of The GUARDS. He was the Commanding Officer of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles, deployed in the sensitive north Kashmir region. He was a recipient of two Sena medals.
The officer, along with his comrades, Maj Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Singh and Sub-Inspector Shakeel Qazi of J&K Police, were martyred during a fierce encounter with Pak-sponsored terrorists in Handwara. Two terrorists were also eliminated in the gunfight.
Col Sharma is survived by his wife Pallavi Sharma and their 12-year old daughter Tamanna, who are residents of the Vaishali Nagar area in Jaipur. The martyr's mother, Sudha Sharma, and brother, Piyush Sharma, also stay in Jaipur.
( With inputs from IANS )