Mumbai: Echoes Of Vande Mataram & Petals Grace Last Journey Of Martyred Army Major

Mira Road was flooded with people, as thousands gathered to pay homage to the Army Major Kaustubh Rane, who was martyred on August 4 while trying to stop an infiltration bid by the terrorists, The Mumbai Mirror reported. Along with Rane, three soldiers Rifleman Hameer Singh and Mandeep Singh Rawat from Uttarakhand, Gunner Vikramjeet Singh From Ambala, Haryana, also Sacrificed their lives in an ambush against the terrorists in Gurez sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, Rishikesh, Kotdwara in Uttarakhand and Ambala in Haryana, too witnessed the funeral parade of their heroes.

Army, today paid tribute to four of its comrades who made supreme sacrifice during Counter Infiltration operations on 07 August 2018 in Gurez sector in which two terrorists were eliminated. pic.twitter.com/mNiPzQjTn9

— Defence Spokesperson (@SpokespersonMoD) August 8, 2018

The scene was emotional and patriotic as people showered flower petals from their terraces onto their coffins. People at their funeral parade, outpoured on streets waving the national flags, posters with their photograph etc. in what was a fitting tribute to his ultimate sacrifice.

Major Kaustubh Rane

Major Kaustubh was the only son of retired employee Prakash Rane and former school teacher Jyoti Rane. He is survived by his wife Kanika and his two-and-a-half-year-old son Agastya.

Furthermore, Major Kaustubh Rane’s last journey saw roads covered with flowers and slogans such as “Major Kaustubh Rane, Amar Rahe”, “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” being echoed. Also, his coffin was draped in the tri-colour, and the truck carrying him was fully petalled, NDTV noted.

Nation salutes #IndianArmy Martyr Maj. KP Rane and Major KP Rane, Hav Jamie Singh, Hav Vikramjeet and Rfn Mandeep who laid down their today for our better tomorrow in #JammuAndKashmir#JaiHind @adgpi @crpfindia @BSF_India @JmuKmrPolice pic.twitter.com/asL93OYtX6

— Ajay Jandyal (@ajayjandyal) August 9, 2018

His body was brought in the wee hours of Thursday, August 8 to Mumbai. This incident brought the otherwise bustling and never stopping Mumbai to a standstill.

The 29-year old Major who was part of the Garhwal Rifles and attached with 36 Rashtriya Rifles was given full military honours. Northern Command of the Indian Army also tweeted to pay homage to the martyrs:

#ArmyCdrNC and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of our brave officer and soldiers & offer deepest condolences to the families @adgpi @PIB_India @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/f59yAOGmR0

— NorthernComd.IA (@NorthernComd_IA) August 7, 2018

While, Ex-Colonel of the Regiment, Garhwal Rifles, Lt Gen Syed Ata Husnain ( Retd) tweeted:

I will always remember Major Kaustabh omy Regiment. Commissioned in my time as COR and displayed outstanding potential. Rest in peace, Son. https://t.co/PUpsJbvPX6

— Syed Ata Hasnain (@atahasnain53) August 7, 2018

Major Rane completed his military training from Pune and in 2011, he commissioned as an officer from the elite Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai.

The DNA quoted a relative of the Armyman who said, “Kaustubh was a very good student and a good human being. Even as a teenager, he was determined to join the Army. He was the only person in his entire family who had joined the Army.”

Notably, he was decorated with the Sena Gallantry Medal by the President Ram Nath Kovindon Republic Day this year.

Three Soldiers

The funeral of 28-year-old Hameer Singh of 12th Garhwal, martyred in Gurez, took place on the same day. He is survived by his wife and a daughter behind. While 26-year-old Mandeep Rawat’s funeral took place in Kotdwara. Streets, during their funeral rally, were flooded with people pouring their respects.

Entire Kotdwara came out on roads to give farewell to its brave son- Mandeep Rawat- martyred in Kashmir’s Gurez sector! pic.twitter.com/n9PXZuAmTp

— Alok Bhatt (@alok_bhatt) August 9, 2018

25-year-old Lance Naik Vikramjeet Singh, a resident of village Tepla in Ambala, who got married just six months ago, people had not expected him to come home in a coffin wrapped in a Tricolor flag. Last rites of Martyrs were performed with full state honours, as reported by Indian Express

Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Trivendra Singh Rawat also tweeted to pay homage to our martyrs.

बांदीपुरा में आतंकियों से मुठभेड़ में उत्तराखंड के 2 वीर सपूत राइफलमैन हमीर सिंह व राइफलमैन मंदीप रावत शहीद हुए हैं। ईश्वर से दिवंगत आत्माओं की शांति और दुःख की इस घड़ी में शहीदों के परिजनों को संबल प्रदान करने की कामना करता हूं। हमारी सरकार सदैव शहीदों के परिजनों के साथ है। pic.twitter.com/UcxI8Jeog2

— Trivendra S Rawat (@tsrawatbjp) August 7, 2018

The Infiltration

The Indian Express reported that Major Kaustubh Rane along with, Rifleman Hameer Singh, Gunner Vikramjeet Singh, and Rifleman Mandeep Rawat were killed by the terrorists who were trying to infiltrate the LOC.

Reportedly, the incident occurred at the Govind Nallah in the Gurez sector of Bandipore district when the army intercepted eight militants trying to cross the border. Two were killed in the exchange fire, and dead bodies of two more were visible at a distance, The Quint quoted army officials who talked to them. The remaining four ran back to the Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir.

Reportedly, the Minister of State for Home, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir revealed to the Lok Sabha that till now this year, 69 terrorists have crossed the LOC. He also said 133 infiltration bids were attempted in total. Additionally, he informed the Lower House that till June this year, 14 terrorists had been killed and another 50 returned from the border.

The Logical Indian salutes the brave martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice.