Soldier from Maharashtra killed at border in firing

Mumbai The body of a soldier from Maharashtra who was killed at the Line Control in Rajouri Sector, Jammu and Kashmir, will be brought to his village Monday for final rites, said a Defence spokesperson.

Rajendra Narayan Tupare, 33, hailing from Karve village in Chandgad, Kolhapur district leaves behind his wife Sharmila and two sons aged 7 and 5.

A Ministry of Defence release said, “An Army jawan Naik Tupare Rajendra Narayan was martyred when Pakistan Army initiated indiscriminate and unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts along the Line of Control in Rajouri Sector on November 6, 2016. The Indian Army responded appropriately to the unprovoked firing by the Pakistan Army.”

Tupare, who has served in the Indian Army for the last 14 years, joined the Maratha Light Infantry in 2002 from Belgaum after passing his 12th standard and was currently posted at the Poonch border.

His mortal remains were flown at 11.30am from Jammu for Sambra, near Belgaum, by service aircraft and will arrive this evening. From Belgaum, his body will be taken to his native village where grief-stricken villagers have been gathering through the day after hearing the news of his death. All shops and offices were shut down in Karve village as a mark of respect to the soldier. The son of a farmer, Tupare is believed to have expressed a desire to do farming after retirement from military service.

His final rites will be performed Tuesday with full military honours.

Earlier on October 30, Border Security Force soldier Nitin S Koli from Dudhgaon in Sangli district was killed while fighting terrorists in Kupwara, Kashmir.

On September 18, four soldiers from Maharashtra were among 18 killed in militant attacks on an army camp in Uri area of Baramulla district of J&K.