22-05-2025
Martyr Santosh's 4-yr-old son lights funeral pyre amid rich tributes from villagers
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Bhagalpur: Tributes poured in as the body of Army Havildar Santosh Kumar, wrapped in a tricolour, reached his native Bhitha village under Ismailpur police station in Bhagalpur's Naugachia on Thursday morning.
As the shell-shocked family members received the body, the martyr's wife and children broke into inconsolable wails.
His grieving wife, Gudia Devi, alias Sapna Kumari, who had neither eaten nor drank anything since she heard about the martyrdom, took water from her dead husband's hands, as she had insisted on drinking water only from his hands.
Army officers and fellow personnel gave a ceremonial guard of honour to Santosh, who was in his 40s, besides handing over his dress and other belongings to his eldest daughter.
An army personal, expressing deep sorrow, said that they are proud of Santosh who sacrificed his life for the nation.
The martyr's four-year-old son Lakshya Kumar lit the funeral pyre amidst chanting of "Shahid Santosh Kumar amar rahe" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" by the villagers, while his three daughters — Diksha Kumari, Dipti Kumari and Ishika Kumari (all between nine and 14 years of age) saluted their father, sobbing uncontrollably.
Santosh attained martyrdom during an encounter with terrorists near Naushera sector in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir late on Monday night, when he, along with his troop, were commuting in an Army vehicle.
Santosh had served the Army for close to 24 years at different places, including Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Maharashtra, before being transferred to Naushera in 2022. Santosh had just returned after a holiday back home in Feb-March.
He was about to be promoted, but destiny had other things in store for him and the family, said his ailing father Chandradev Yadav.
Santosh's widow Sapna said that her husband was about to be promoted to the post of junior commissioned officer. Now she would like her son and daughters to join the Army, and make their father proud, she added amid sobs.
Earlier rich tributes were paid by Bihar and central ministers among others, including CM Nitish Kumar, after the body of martyr Santosh reached Patna airport on Wednesday night from J&K.
Purnia MP Rajesh Ranjan and Gopalpur MLA Narendra Kumar Niraj, aka Gopal Mandal, among others also visited the home of martyr Santosh, and consoled the family members.
Khagaria MP Rajesh Verma, Bhagalpur MP Ajay Kumar Mandal, former MP Shailesh, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain and others assured the family all help they needed.
Bhagalpur district magistrate Nawal Kishor Choudhary had directed the executive officer of Naugachia Nagar Parishad to receive the body of the martyr, and accompany the convoy to his native place, where he directed the district and Naugachia subdivisional officials to remain present during the cremation, as per protocol.
Bhagalpur: Tributes poured in as the body of Army Havildar Santosh Kumar, wrapped in a tricolour, reached his native Bhitha village under Ismailpur police station in Bhagalpur's Naugachia on Thursday morning. As the shell-shocked family members received the body, the martyr's wife and children broke into inconsolable wails.
His grieving wife, Gudia Devi, alias Sapna Kumari, who had neither eaten nor drank anything since she heard about the martyrdom, took water from her dead husband's hands, as she had insisted on drinking water only from his hands.
Army officers and fellow personnel gave a ceremonial guard of honour to Santosh, who was in his 40s, besides handing over his dress and other belongings to his eldest daughter. An army personal, expressing deep sorrow, said that they are proud of Santosh who sacrificed his life for the nation.
The martyr's four-year-old son Lakshya Kumar lit the funeral pyre amidst chanting of "Shahid Santosh Kumar amar rahe" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" by the villagers, while his three daughters — Diksha Kumari, Dipti Kumari and Ishika Kumari (all between nine and 14 years of age) saluted their father, sobbing uncontrollably.
Santosh attained martyrdom during an encounter with terrorists near Naushera sector in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir late on Monday night, when he, along with his troop, were commuting in an Army vehicle.
Santosh had served the Army for close to 24 years at different places, including Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Maharashtra, before being transferred to Naushera in 2022. Santosh had just returned after a holiday back home in Feb-March.
He was about to be promoted, but destiny had other things in store for him and the family, said his ailing father Chandradev Yadav.
Santosh's widow Sapna said that her husband was about to be promoted to the post of junior commissioned officer. Now she would like her son and daughters to join the Army, and make their father proud, she added amid sobs.
Earlier rich tributes were paid by Bihar and central ministers among others, including CM Nitish Kumar, after the body of martyr Santosh reached Patna airport on Wednesday night from J&K.
Purnia MP Rajesh Ranjan and Gopalpur MLA Narendra Kumar Niraj, aka Gopal Mandal, among others also visited the home of martyr Santosh, and consoled the family members.
Khagaria MP Rajesh Verma, Bhagalpur MP Ajay Kumar Mandal, former MP Shailesh, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain and others assured the family all help they needed.
Bhagalpur district magistrate Nawal Kishor Choudhary had directed the executive officer of Naugachia Nagar Parishad to receive the body of the martyr, and accompany the convoy to his native place, where he directed the district and Naugachia subdivisional officials to remain present during the cremation, as per protocol.
