Tearful farewell to Siachen martyrs

201621indiaRelatives of Mahesh, one of the soldiers killed in Siachen, cry on the arrival of his body in Mysuru.

Hundreds of people on Tuesday bid emotional farewell to Siachen bravehearts in their respective native places.
The mortal remains of Sepoy Mustaq Ahmed, who was among the 10 Army personnel killed in Siachen avalanche earlier this month, were laid to rest on Tuesday with full military honours at his native village of Parnepalli in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.
A large number of people, gathered at the village, bid tearful farewell to the martyr. His parents and other family members said they were proud that he sacrificed his life for the country. The body of Ahmed (30) was placed at his residence to enable people to pay their last respects. The Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K E Krishna Murthy, YSR Congress Party President Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and other leaders attended the funeral.
Earlier, the body of Siachen hero was flown to Hyderabad from New Delhi on Monday. Senior officials from the Army and other departments, and a large number of citizens paid homage to Ahmed. Andhra Area General Officer Commanding, Maj. Gen Pachori, and Commandant of MCEME Lt. Gen Gurmukh Singh and other senior officers received the body. The Madras Regiment performed the honours. The State government, represented by Hyderabad Collector Rahul Bojja and senior police officials, also laid wreaths. The body was then shifted to his native village by road.
Ahmed had joined the Madras Regiment's 19th Battalion in September 2004. During his career spanning over a decade he had been part of the battalion's counter militancy team in the North-East and in Jammu and Kashmir. A sports enthusiast, Ahmed had later volunteered to join the Rashtriya Rifles deployed in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The braveheart had volunteered to be part of one of the most crucial posts on the Siachen glacier at an altitude of 19,600 feet with sub zero temperatures. He, along with his nine companions who were guarding the post, was buried under an avalanche that hit their high altitude military post on February 3.
Ahmed is survived by his wife Nasimunnisa, son and parents.
Sepoy Ahmed had inspired the youths of his tiny native village that has produced 15 soldiers. Ahmed used to regularly inspire the village youths to join the armed forces. He joined the Army in 2004 after completing passing out from Nandyal Junior College in Kurnool district.
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