Shimla: The families on Sunday bade a final farewell to the seven soldiers from Himachal Pradesh who lost their lives in an ambush in Manipur with full military and state honours at their native villages near here.
Wrapped in Tricolor, the bodies of the soldiers, who belonged to 6 Dogra infantry Battalion, were brought to the cremation ground in an army vehicle by officers and jawans of Dogra Regiment.
The bodies were brought to Chandigarh by a special plane last night and transported by road to villagers of the Jawans.
Himachal Social Welfare and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram received the bodies at Chandigarh and laid wreath on the coffins on behalf of state government.
Cabinet minister Dhani Ram Shandil, Chief Parliament Secretary Vinay Kumar and SDM Sangrah Ashok Chauhan also attended the cremation.
The armymen - Havladar Prakash Chand, Sepoy Manoj Kumar, Sepoy Vikas Bhardwaj, Havladar Rajesh Kumar, Naib Subedar Rajneesh Singh, Naib Subedar Ashok Kumar and Sepoy Sohan Singh were consigned to flames with full state honours.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has announced financial assistance of Rs five lakhs each to the family members of the martyrs from Himachal Pradesh and said that the state government would extend all possible help to the kins of the martyrs.
Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee President also held a condolence meet at the party office to pay homage to slain soldiers.
