India mourns the death of two India Army officers - Colonel Manpreet Singh and Major Ashish Dhonchak - and DSP Humayun Bhat who died during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag. The last rites of the martyred soldiers were performed in their respective hometowns and visuals left several tear-eyed. A video of the six-year-old son of Colonel Manpreet Singh is winning hearts of netizens. The clip shows the young boy, dressed in an Army uniform saluting his father’s mortal remains that was kept in the courtyard of their home at Mullanpur Garibdass in Punjab. He is also seen waving his hand over the coffin in which Col. Singh’s body was kept.
VIDEO | 6-year-old Kabir, the son of Colonel Manpreet Singh who sacrificed his life during the Anantnag encounter, salutes before the mortal remains of his father in Haryana's Panchkula.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 15, 2023
Colonel Manpreet Singh's mortal remains are being laid to rest in Mohali's Mullanpur. pic.twitter.com/x0p0k9tfrJ
Col. Singh also has a two-year-old daughter who was sitting on her mother’s lap.
#WATCH | Jagmeet Kaur, wife of Col Manpreet Singh, folds her hands as she bids him a final goodbye. Visuals from his native village Mullanpur Garibdass in Mohali, Punjab.
— ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2023
Col Singh lost his life in the line of duty while fighting terrorists in J&K's Anantnag. pic.twitter.com/apOVThZKal
The mortal remains of Col. Singh were carried for the last rites amid chants of “Col Manpreet amar rahe” and “Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal”.
#WATCH | Mohali, Punjab: Col Manpreet Singh's mortal remains being carried for the last rites, amid chants of "Col Manpreet amar rahe" and "Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal"
— ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2023
Visuals from his native village Mullanpur Garibdass. Col. Singh lost his life in the line of duty while… pic.twitter.com/0aq8h7T5di
Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit laid a wreath on the mortal remains of Col. Singh and paid tribute to him.
#WATCH | Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit lays a wreath on the mortal remains of Col Manpreet Singh and pays tribute to him. Col Singh lost his life in the line of duty while fighting terrorists in J&K's Anantnag.
— ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2023
Visuals from Col Singh's native village Mullanpur Garibdass in… pic.twitter.com/EteJfeKSIT
Former Army chief General (retd) VP Malik also paid respect to Col Singh.
VIDEO | Former Army chief General (retd) VP Malik pays respect to Colonel Manpreet Singh, who lost his life in the anti-terror operation in Anantnag. pic.twitter.com/QuYTgzSXM1
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 15, 2023
Col. Singh will be cremated with full state honours. He will be accorded a final guard of honour by his 19 Rashtriya Rifle (RR). Col. Manpreet Singh hailed from a small village in Punjab named Bharonjian which is situated on the outskirts of Chandigarh. He was posted in Kashmir with the Rashtriya Rifle and his tenure was about to end in four months.
VIDEO | Last rites of Colonel Manpreet Singh underway in Mullanpur, Punjab. Colonel Manpreet lost his life in the anti-terror operation in Anantnag. pic.twitter.com/ism8e3w1P4
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 15, 2023
In 2021, he was decorated with the Sena Medal for Gallantry when he was a Lieutenant Colonel with the RR. Col. Singh is survived by his mother, wife Jagmeet Grewal and two children. His father, who died a few years ago, was also a retired Indian Army veteran.