Several Gorkha organisations in Assam have decided to march with the mortal remains of martyr Padam Bahadur Shrestha on arrival at Dimapur Airport on Tuesday.
Leaders and members of the All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AAGSU), Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangha (BGP), Assam Gorkha Sammelan and Nepali Sahitya Sabha assembled at the house of the martyr on Monday afternoon to console the grief-stricken family members.
In an informal meeting it was decided to receive the mortal remains of the martyr with a rally – Martyrs March.
A large number of Gorkha people will march with the convoy carrying the mortal remains and on arrival in Dighalipathar Hatighuli village they will march on foot till the martyr’s house and the cremation ground.
On Monday, community leaders, neighbours and family members of the martyr were seen busy cleaning the premises for the cremation ground.
Cremation will take place at his native place – Dighalipathar Hatighuli village – following the Gorkha rituals.
Havildar Padam Bahadur Shrestha of 3/9 Gorkha Rifles attained martyrdom on October 19 when Pakistan resorted to unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC) at Kupwara`s Tangdhar sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
Martyr Shrestha joined the Indian Army in October 2001 when he was a second year HS student at Barpathar College.
He is the second son of Dhan Bahadur Shrestha, a farmer and Dil Kumari Shrestha, a housewife.
Nanda Kirati Dewan, national secretary (Youth Affairs), Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangha told Northeast Now, “As a proud Indian, I salute the supreme sacrifice and on behalf of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangha, representing 10.5 million Gorkhas of the nation, I pay tribute to the great soul, who laid down his life in line of duty.”
“Defence spokesperson Lt. Col P Khongsai, when enquired, informed over the phone in the morning about arrival of the mortal remains of the martyr at Dimapur Airport by an Air India flight No. 709 at 12:55 pm on Tuesday instead of Jorhat Airport.”
He also added, “Late in the evening, Lt. Col Khongsai confirmed that it is scheduled as informed and shared the part of the official communication.”
“After receiving the confirmation, the Gorkhas have planned a Martyrs March from Dimapur to Dighalipathar in honour of martyr Padam Bahadur Shrestha” added Dewan.
Dewan further informed that ‘Dimapur Gorkha CSOs’ leaders and members will receive the martyr’s body at Dimapur Airport and march along with it till the Nagaland Gate.
The members of AAGSU, Karbi Anlong will receive the body at Nagaland Gate and march with it till Chungajan via Bokajan.
At Bokajan, the members of the Golaghat District Gorkha Students’ Union and leaders of Gorkha CSOs of Golaghat and ex-serviceman welfare association along with common people from all walks of life will receive the body and march till Dighalipathar via Naojan, Sarupathar and Barpathar.
Meghraj Sonar, general secretary of Golaghat District AAGSU, who is the co-ordinator of Martyrs March, said, “We have already informed the district administration and met the Dhansiri sub-division administration regarding the Martyrs March.”
“The SDO (Civil) has assured us of extending all sort of administrative support for arrival of mortal remains of the martyr,” added Sonar.
A resident of Dighalipathar Hatighuli under Barpathar PS of Golaghat district, Shrestha leaves behind his wife Thal Kumari Shrestha, a daughter, who is a student of class XI and two sons.