Tearful adieu to four valiant soldiers from Maha

Mumbai, Sep 20 (PTI) An emotional farewell was given tofour valiant army jawans from Maharashtra, who lost theirlives in the Uri attack, as their last rites were performed intheir respective native villages with full military and statehonours. Sandip Somnath Thok (24) from Nashik district,Chandrakant Shankar Galande from Satara, Vikas JanardhanKulmethe (27) from Yavatmal district and Panjab alias VikasJanrao Uike (26) from Amravati lost their lives in the terrorattack on Sunday. Amid slogans in his praise by thousands of emotionalvillagers and family members, the mortal remains of Army jawanSandip Thok were consigned to flames at his native Khadanglivillage in Nashik district. The body of Sandip, who is survived by parents, elderbrother Yogesh and two married sisters, was yesterday broughtto Ojhar Airport in Nashik district in an IAF plane fromSrinagar and then taken to his native village last night. His parents, relatives and villagers broke down on seeingthe valiant soldier’s body. A procession was also taken out in the village as stateRural Development Minister Dadaji Bhuse, District CollectorRadhakrishnan B, Sub-Divisional Officer Mahesh Patil,Tehsildar Manoj Khairnar and others paid rich tributes to themartyr. The jawan was bid farewell amid chants of ‘Bharat Mata KiJai’ and ‘Sandeep Thok amar rahein’ by grief-strickenvillagers as his mortal remains were cremated late last nightwith full military honours. Galande’s body was brought to his native Jashi village inSatara this morning where his last rites were performed withfull military honours. Thousands of villagers and teary-eyed family membersgathered at the site to pay their last respects. A largeprocession was carried out by villagers. Satara Guardian Minister Vijay Shivtare, state Food,Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Girish Bapat,and several others paid tributes to the jawan. Galande had joined the Army in 2004 as soon as hecompleted his education. He is survived by his wife, two sons,parents and two brothers. His parents, while talking to reporters yesterday, haddemanded stern action against Pakistan. (MORE) PTI HVJ SPK GKNPIKA