Nagrota terror attack: Martyr Naik Chittaranjan Debbarma's body to be taken to Tripura on Thursday

Indian soldiers in Nagrota

Agartala: The body of Naik Chittaranjan Debbarma, killed in a terror attack in Jammu, will be brought to Tripura on Thursday for cremation at his native village with full state honours, officials said on Wednesday.

"The body of Debbarma, 36, will be brought here on Thursday and taken to Khowai, 80 km north of Agartala, by road to his native village Paglabari (in western Tripura)," Khowai Sub-Divisional Magistrate Prasun Dey told IANS over phone.

Tripura's Forest and Rural Development Minister Naresh Jamatia, Khowai District Magistrate Apurba Roy, senior Army and security officials will be present at the cremation.

Seven soldiers, including two officers, were killed on Tuesday after suicide bombers armed with guns and grenades stormed a military base at Nagrota near Jammu. 

Three attackers were gunned down. Three more militants died in a shootout with security forces near the International border with Pakistan.

The Debbarma family and their relatives and neighbours in Paglabari plunged into gloom after the news of his death reached the tribal-dominated village late on Tuesday night.

Naik Debbarma is survived by his wife Namita, aged parents and two children aged 11 and seven. His elder brother Arun Debbarma retired from the Army in March.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, in a condolence message, said his government expressed solidarity with the bereaved family.

"Our brave Tripura soldier Chittaranjan Debbarma was martyred while protecting our country. We stand with his family in tough times," Sarkar said.

"We are shocked to hear the news. We are also very proud of him. He attained martyrdom while fighting for the nation," Sarkar added.

Chittaranjan Debbarma is the second security personnel from the area killed in a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir within a week.

Earlier, 34-year-old Border Security Force Havildar Sambhu Satmura was killed in a landmine blast along the India-Pakistan border at Jamia Wali Gali of Sawjian sector in Poonch district on November 22.

Satmura, a resident of Agartala's Subhasnagar locality, was posted with the F Company of BSF's 107 Battalion.